A LOCAL environment charity has raised concern for Wiltshire’s rivers and rare chalk streams, following the government’s plans to scrap the Nutrient Neutrality Scheme, that will see tax payers funding the bill to clean up pollution caused by housebuilders.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust say the plans to scrap existing EU laws, that ensures developers take suitable measures to protect rivers from the pollution as a result of their works, will further harm the already damaged rivers in Wiltshire and rare chalk streams.
The government is trying to scrap existing rules through an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and claims that the removal of these restrictions will allow developers to deliver an extra £18bn in economic activity as well as 100,000 new houses.
The government also says it will double its investment to the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme to £280 million to offset the nutrient discharge from the new houses but Wiltshire Wildlife Trust say a one-off injection of funds to compensate will not rescue the already damaged rivers.
Chief executive officer of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Jo Lewis, said, “In exempting housebuilders from playing their part in preventing more nutrients polluting our precious rivers, the government is simply transferring more of the burden to farmers and to the public via higher taxes and water bills.
“The public has made clear their outrage about the state of our rivers and now they hear they are to pick up the bill for simply stopping housebuilders from making the situation worse. This is one more broken government promise on the environment and short-sighted in the extreme.”
Local MP Michelle Donelan depended the government’s position, saying, “Out of date European Union ‘nutrient neutrality’ laws are preventing thousands of homes from being built in the UK. Currently over 100,000 homes are held up due to legacy EU laws on nutrient neutrality across 62 local authorities.
“We are fixing this in law. Increased levels of nutrients entering our waterways is a problem which is why between now and 2030, £280 million has been made available to invest in nature-based solutions – which doubles the funding available for mitigation schemes.
“Ministers have been clear that this support will more than offset the small amount of pollution expected from these new homes. We have taken decisive action to unlock these homes, provide an estimated £18 billion boost to the economy and further protect our environment.”
