North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns column

North Herefordshire is home to some of the most beautiful rivers in the country, including the Wye and the Lugg. These waterways are not just a source of natural beauty; they are vital to our local environment, wildlife, and communities. Yet as everyone locally knows, our rivers face significant challenges from pollution. Tackling this issue is one of my top priorities as your MP.  

In Parliament, I’ve worked to set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water Pollution, bringing together MPs from across the political spectrum to push for real, lasting solutions to this issue. I’ve also been pressing Ministers directly, including in a Westminster Hall debate and through oral questions, to take urgent action.  

In December, I met with the Minister for Water and Flooding alongside local groups and other Wye catchment MPs to highlight the specific challenges facing the River Wye. Recently, I’ve met with the Water Commission to ensure our voices are heard at the highest levels, and called on the Secretary of State to commit funding for the Wye Catchment Plan and to visit North Herefordshire with me to see the problems and the solutions first-hand. One of the key actions I’m calling for is the establishment of a Water Protection Zone around the Wye, which would provide stronger safeguards to prevent pollution in the river.  

I have to be honest: I’m pretty frustrated with the way the government has mishandled relationships with farmers so far. Farmers hold the key to addressing pollution, reversing the decline in nature, and tackling the climate crisis.  But they need proper support from government.   

Fundamentally, we need much more investment in nature-friendly farming.  Long-term investment in nature-friendly farming is a win-win-win: it will help us secure jobs and livelihoods, grow good healthy local food, and restore nature.  Frustratingly, though, farmers have been struggling with having the plug pulled on capital grants schemes, and insufficient support for the higher-level stewardship schemes that offer the best ‘bang for buck’. So I’ll keep on banging the drum in Parliament for proper, long-term, sustainable farming policy. That’ll help clean up our rivers and deliver a secure future for Herefordshire’s agricultural economy too! 

North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns