"It is vital that the Government and its agencies, house builders, the agricultural sector and water companies all come together with councils to continue to find short-term solutions while doing everything we can to reduce pollution at source.”
Commenting on the Government’s plans to tackle water pollution, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association Environment spokesperson said:
“Councils want safe, clean, thriving natural environments alongside the sustainable development of housing, growth and jobs.
“It is important to strike the balance between ensuring councils can provide new homes for local people alongside protecting our environment such as our rivers. Councils have always been clear that limiting new developments alone will not be enough to improve the state of English rivers. Our recent research found 17,000 homes year were impacted by development bans so we are pleased that these measures will mean some areas will be able to build homes again.
“However we also need to act quickly to reduce all pollution at source. It is positive that new obligations are being placed on water companies and that Natural England will play a more active role in finding mitigation solutions and it is also critical to maintain the protections for our rivers and to remain focused on delivering the reduction of pollutants from entering the rivers in the first place.
“Councils are at the centre of this ambition and it is vital that the Government and its agencies, house builders, the agricultural sector and water companies all come together with councils to continue to find short-term solutions while doing everything we can to reduce pollution at source.”