Urgent Lancashire Rivers Need Your Help

Dear Reader Lancashire rivers urgently need your help, even if you don't live in the area, you no doubt visit or will visit the area sometime to enjoy its beauty. The following notice has appeared in the Burnley Express How can we allow this to happen in a civilised world. I well remember back in the 1970's and 80's the big fish kills on the River Ribble caused by pollution coming down the River Calder. As I write you can walk along the banks of both rivers, see condoms sanitary towels and other filth scattered on the banks and in the bushes. This effects everyone, not just anglers, but naturalists, bird watchers, canoeists, walkers and many other including families who want to take their children to the river for a picnic. Lancashire C.C, Ribble Valley B.C hotels, riverside pubs etc etc are all trying to attract visitors to the area. I am disgusted to think the EA would even allow United Utilities to even contemplate such action. Then I do not feel the EA are doing the job they are supposed to be doing which is looking after the environment. Twice in the past few weeks I have reported commercial waste being dumped on the banks of the River Ribble near Henthorne Clitheroe by a local landscape gardener. Nothing has happened both times it was swept away by flood water. On the second occasion I was given the pathetic excuse by the EA Under the H&S saying its too dangerous to move. As I said when talking to the EA I am 68 with multiple sclerosis, one kidney, diabetes and cholesterol. even I could go and move the rubbish. There was no answer to that. As it was on private property I couldn't do anything. Please write your letter today and why not write to your MP at the same time.




THIS NOTICE HAS APPEARED IN THE BURNLEY EXPRESS NEWSPAPER UNDER "INFORMATION" THIS ARTICLE WAS PLACED BY THE E.A. THE UNITED UTILITIES HAVE APPLIED FOR A CONSENT TO RELEASE EFFLUENT INTO THE RIVER CALDER AT TIMES OF SPATE OR EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. THIS CONSENT WOULD MEAN THAT EFFLUENT CAN BE EMPTIED INTO THE RIVER AND THAT THIS EFFLUENT WOULD NOT BE SCREENED OR FILTERED.

WE MUST MAKE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE OBJECTION TO THIS E.A./ UNITED UTILITIES
ALL OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL MUST BE IN WRITING, QUOTING THE REFERENCE C/175/A/04/V BY THE 25th MARCH 2005. THE ADDRESS WHERE THESE OBJECTIONS SHOULD BE SENT IS -------

Mr D.EDWARDS.
AUTHORISATION OFFICER.
THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY.
NORTH WEST CENTRAL AREA OFFICE
P.O.BOX 519
SOUTH PRESTON.
PR 5 8GD

Dear Editor I would like to draw too the attention of the readers who are walkers, bird watchers, anglers and naturalists. That United Utilities have applied for consent to release effluent into the River Calder at times of spate or in emergency conditions. This consent would mean they effluent can be emptied into the river and this effluent would not be screened or filtered. The River Calder flows into the River Ribble. Both water courses will suffer.

As I write sanitary towels, condoms and other obscene rubbish can be seen scattered along the banks of the Rivers Calder and Ribble. What sort of a Nation allows these third world country practises. We live in a tourist area where we encourage visitors. Many of these people enjoy being at the waters edge. Would you want your children picking up these rather horrid objects?.

Objections to this proposal must be in writing, quoting the reference C/175/A/04/V By 25th March 2005 To Mr D Edwards Authorisation Officer The Environment Agency North West Central Area Office PO Box 519 South Preston PR3 8DG Yours sincerely Martin James Kingfisher, Grindleton, Lancashire. BB7 4RR