Local Elections Bring Change – Now Let’s Make Rivers Part of the Conversation

By Erica Popplewell, Head of Communities at River Action

“Popcorn Week”

The recent local elections brought major political change across the country, with seats changing hands in every direction and hundreds of new councillors elected to represent their communities. Nationally, the impacts are already being felt. Westminster has entered what one commentator described as “popcorn week”, a moment where everyone sits back and watches the seismic political shifts unfold.

But while attention is focused on national politics, we shouldn’t forget the real power and opportunity that exists at a local level. Because when it comes to protecting our rivers, local government matters enormously.

New councillors are stepping into their roles full of energy, ideas, and a desire to make a difference in their communities. Many will already care deeply about nature and public spaces. Others may not yet realise just how central healthy rivers are to local life – from public health and biodiversity to flooding, recreation, farming, and community wellbeing.

That’s where we come in.

As campaigners, river users, and citizens who care about our waterways, we have an opportunity right now to help put rivers firmly on the local agenda.

Reach out to your newly elected representatives. Send them a welcome message. Invite them for a walk along their local river. Show them both the beauty and the challenges: the pollution, the sewage, the loss of wildlife, but also the joy, value, and sense of place that rivers bring to communities. For many councillors, environmental issues may sit outside their usual knowledge zone. We can help bridge that gap. We can connect local stories to local action.

River Action’s River Rescue Kit also contains practical resources and guidance to help communities campaign effectively for cleaner rivers and engage with local decision-makers. You can explore it here.

River pollution – a shared concern

And while you may or may not agree with the political colour of your new council representatives, one thing is worth remembering: in our experience, there are good people in every party who genuinely care about their communities and want to do the right thing.

At River Action, we’ve sat down with representatives from across the political spectrum, including what felt like one of the unlikeliest meetings I’ve ever attended, with two local councillors, one Green and the other Reform. Yet even there, we found a shared concern about the state of our rivers.

So let’s stay open-minded. Let’s focus on common ground. And let’s work with those willing to stand up for clean, healthy rivers. Political change creates moments of possibility. Let’s make sure rivers are part of this new chapter.