North Herefordshire MP launches new cross-party group on water pollution

The new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Water Pollution, initiated and co-chaired by Ellie Chowns, MP for North Herefordshire, has held its first meeting.

The new group will bring together MPs and Peers from across different parties to work on improving understanding of the causes and impacts of water pollution, as well as the solutions to it.

Ellie Chowns said:“Clean water is a basic need for life, and across the country our rivers, lakes and seas are at the heart of communities, providing vital habitats for plants and wildlife, and invaluable environments for good mental and physical health. But their own health has been shamefully neglected. Not one stretch of river in England is in good overall condition [1]. There have been some encouraging first steps from the Government, but it has so far overlooked a critical source of pollution, agricultural runoff. This new parliamentary group will work across party lines to promote understanding of the causes of, impacts of and solutions to this national crisis. Our rivers and seas are rightly a source of local and national pride, and I hope that by working together cross-party, this group can inspire meaningful action to restore them.”