Why is the Environment Agency so against cleaning, maintaining UK rivers??

Pilatus · Feb 19, 2024

I ask the above as @Farmer dyke and @Gerbert, have explained in answer to my thread “River/dyke cleaning,Question for farmers in Holland/Netherlands, that the “Waterboards”, dictate how waterways must be “Cleaned”.
So repeating my self, why is the UK Environment Agency so so opposed, hell bent against rivers been cleaned etc , compared to the Holland/ Netherlands “waterboards”.???????

warksfarmer · Feb 19, 2024

Because the physco tree huggers got to them about all the little creatures in the water that mustn’t be touched ……… and it’s saved them millions and millions.

Kevtherev · Feb 19, 2024

Invertebrates voles otters fish and other such creatures.

spin cycle · Feb 19, 2024

lobby groups have successfully argued for a return to medieval rivers.....only trouble is it's the 21century

upnortheast · Feb 19, 2024

Kevtherev said:
Invertebrates voles otters fish and other such creatures.

Which my friends in the south west tell me took no harm at all when the river parrot was regularly cleaned out

Kevtherev · Feb 19, 2024

upnortheast said:
Which my friends in the south west tell me took no harm at all when the river parrot was regularly cleaned out

There was certainly more fish in the rivers that were routinely dredged that I know of.
Unless of course it’s the sewage from urban spread that’s to blame but you mustn’t mention it.
Blame agricultural activity instead.

Old apprentice · Feb 19, 2024

More wild life will be killed with not cleaning rivers out with flooding that will kill more.

spark plug · Feb 19, 2024

Like many public sector entities, the EA are in it for the easy life. Go to work, do as little as possible, get some good publicity here and there, looking after all the little beasties. Get taken out for a slap up meal now and then by the water company fat cats, so they can fly tip 5h1t in the rivers and top it all off with an early finish on friday.

Lakes Nash · Feb 19, 2024

The infrastructure cannot take all the expansion of the urban household, more and more houses being built, more tarmac less saturation, all top water piped and no regular preventative maintenance,

essex man · Feb 19, 2024

Because not cleaning rivers saves money they spend on their salaries.
Not cleaning rivers can be greenwashed as promoting wetland wildlife.
Having floods can be blamed climate change and promoting that as a problem is endemic in government/civil service

wanton dwarf · Feb 19, 2024

Pilatus said:
I ask the above as @Farmer dyke and @Gerbert, have explained in answer to my thread “River/dyke cleaning,Question for farmers in Holland/Netherlands, that the “Waterboards”, dictate how waterways must be “Cleaned”.
So repeating my self, why is the UK Environment Agency so so opposed, hell bent against rivers been cleaned etc , compared to the Holland/ Netherlands “waterboards”.???????

Because it costs nothing to do nothing

Same as the roads & Sewage Plants - do nothing, take the money, increase the pensions & bonuses, get a better car and go do some side work to get even more money

The mugs will just keep paying regardless

If you are in doubt go look at an EA car park - might also see the Diesel Generators charging the EV cars

wanton dwarf · Feb 19, 2024

essex man said:
Because not cleaning rivers saves money they spend on their salaries.
Not cleaning rivers can be greenwashed as promoting wetland wildlife.
Having floods can be blamed climate change and promoting that as a problem is endemic in government/civil service

Also reduces property values to they can be bought on the cheap

Skimmer · Feb 19, 2024

The laws says you can't damage habitat, dedging damages habitat so as a government agency the EA can't dredge.
So if the river blocked and voles are present it can't be touched regardless of how much damage flooding does upstream.

wanton dwarf · Feb 19, 2024

Skimmer said:
The laws says you can't damage habitat, dedging damages habitat so as a government agency the EA can't dredge.
So if the river blocked and voles are present it can't be touched regardless of how much damage flooding does upstream.

HS2 does what exactly to habitats ? Goes straight through mulitple SSSI

It's just an excuse to do nothing

PI Stsker · Feb 19, 2024

Because the water voles and butterflies and dragon flies live in there. Oh and it saves them multiple millions of pounds in having to do it so it makes sense for them to side with the eco warriors and have some extra cash on the hip for new vans/trucks more often and a bloody good Christmas knees up

Pilatus · Feb 19, 2024

As I said on my other thread, if the Environment Agency policy was adopted in Holland/ Netherlands the country would not exist as it would be completely flooded

!!!

Old apprentice · Feb 19, 2024

Skimmer said:
The laws says you can't damage habitat, dedging damages habitat so as a government agency the EA can't dredge.
So if the river blocked and voles are present it can't be touched regardless of how much damage flooding does upstream.

What a wet nation we have become.

Welderloon · Feb 19, 2024

The EA / SEPA are against clearing/dredging because they have no actual idea or experience of how to manage the river network while also having only guidance role knowledge on the whole matter.
This is borne from the ecological aspect of waterway maintenance activities which are always focused on habitat destruction which in turn is because of the amount of ecological degree educated people involved in the organisation.
When the old river authorities were on the go they liaised with land owners regarding works that needed done, the work was carried out as agreed & there was a relatively harmonious relationship with land owners assisting when & where possible.
Now we have layers of Oxygen Thievery within the organisation clogging up the system with process & devouring the budget similar to rest of the civil service, Health & Educational sectors
Its much easier to blame & hide behind climate change as a means to protect their careers than do anything productive that will jeopardise their income all the while rubbing up Tax Payer the wrong way.

It needs to change very quickly.

Pilatus · Feb 19, 2024

Skimmer said:
The laws says you can't damage habitat, dedging damages habitat so as a government agency the EA can't dredge.
So if the river blocked and voles are present it can't be touched regardless of how much damage flooding does upstream.

Old apprentice · Feb 19, 2024

With the political lot on both sides what chance of any change.!!!

Why is the Environment Agency so against cleaning, maintaining UK rivers??

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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