Consultation outcome

Challenges and Choices consultation responses: short summary

Updated 17 February 2021

We published the current river basin management plans (RBMPs) in February 2016. We are working with partners to review and update these plans.

As part of this process, in October 2019 we launched the second of 3 statutory consultations – Challenges and Choices. We asked for your views on the challenges waters face and the choices we all need to make to improve and protect this precious resource.

Your responses are shaping our approach to managing the water environment. We are using them to update the existing RBMPs. These will support our ambition to create climate resilient communities and landscapes, and provide clean and plentiful water for all.

We launched the Challenges and Choices consultation on 24 October 2019. Our aim was to complete it after the 6 month statutory period on 24 April 2020. However, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, along with feedback from partners, we extended the deadline for consultation submissions. We extended it by 5 months to 24 September 2020.

We ran the consultation online to make it accessible to everyone. We value all comments and feedback. We are very encouraged by the:

• level of involvement
• range of organisations and individuals from all ages and sectors of society that responded

The main consultation summary report document provides information on the:

• number of responses
• types of organisations responding
• how people responded
• key messages for each question

The document is a ‘you said’ summary of responses. It does not state actions we will take as a result. These actions will be set out in the updated draft river basin management plans which we will also consult on.

We are working with Natural Resources Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to update the draft plans for the Dee and Solway Tweed. Consultation on both these draft plans began in December 2020.

You can find out more about the river basin planning process in:

• Wales by visiting the Natural Resources Wales website
• Scotland by visiting the Scottish Environment Protection Agency website

The Challenges and Choices consultation documents were published online. They presented each main environmental challenge on a specific page. The challenges included:

• climate and biodiversity crisis
• changes to water levels and flows
• chemicals in the water environment
• invasive non-native species
• physical modifications
• plastic pollution
• pollution from abandoned mines
• pollution from agriculture and rural areas
• pollution from towns, cities and transport
• pollution from water industry waste water

We received 606 responses, mostly submitted through the online consultation tool. A range of groups and individuals submitted responses, including:

• the water industry
• local authorities
• the farming industry
• navigation authorities
• catchment partnerships
• local wildlife groups
• regional flood and coastal committees

You can find a list of all the organisations that responded in appendix 6.3 (page 97) of the consultation summary report.

Some examples of the topics that consultees referred to include the following. These are not exclusive or listed in any particular order.

Nature based solutions that can deliver multiple benefits

We received comments on:

• reducing flood risk through natural flood management
• improving habitats and biodiversity through actions such as rewilding

Addressing storm water overflows

Respondents thought the Environment Agency needed to:

• improve their operations and reduce their frequency of use
• penalise water companies when they use them too frequently

Tackling over abstraction

Respondents commented on the:

• importance of sustainable abstraction on chalk
• need to maintain a minimum flow target
• need to value water appropriately and encourage using water meters

Protecting chalk streams

Respondents raised the importance of protecting chalk streams:

• from over abstraction, pollution and physical modification
• by securing additional protection for these globally unique water environments

Catchment planning and partnerships

Respondents raised the importance of delivering education and citizen campaigns, but only if they are sufficiently funded for the long term.

Enforcing existing regulations

Respondents stressed the need for the Environment Agency to do more on enforcing existing regulations.

Future of agriculture

We received comments on how important proposed Environmental Land Management schemes are to the future of agriculture, including:

• the vital role these schemes will play to improve the environment and soil health
• that the schemes need to be supported by greater enforcement of existing regulations

Chemicals and plastics in the environment

Comments included that we need:

• campaigns to educate people about sustainable use
• government bans and restrictions, where appropriate

Securing future funding for the environment

The main suggestion was for the government to use additional taxes to support environmental improvements. Also to secure funding to enforce existing regulations, such as farm inspections.

Next steps

We are continuing to analyse responses as we identify actions to take. You will be able to comment on these during the draft RBMP consultation. After this we will finalise the plans and submit them to the Secretary of State for approval.

We will tell you as soon as we have more certainty about the timetable for updating these plans – we will provide updates on the River basin management plans: 2015 web page.