HISTORY OF DRIPS
Reg Charity No 1002300
The Darent River Preservation Society (DRiPS) was formed in 1985 at a meeting called by the Shoreham Society - its aim was the restoration and preservation of the river Darent. It made its case to the media, local and national politicians and of course Thames Water Authority (TWA ) and it was featured on television and in the national press. It engaged the services of a hydrologist who after a time refused payment and became a committee member and later Vice President. In due course charitable status was achieved.
With the formation of the National Rivers Authority (NRA ) the Darent came under the Southern Region of the NRA, and it had to go through the lobbying process again. Fortunately after a visit by the then chairman of the NRA Lord Crickhowell declared that the Darent was top of the list of the ten worst rivers that must be saved.
The NRA ( later to become the EA ), South East WAter ( SEW ), TWA and DRiPS agreed ' The Darent Action Plan ' (DAP ).
In 2012, after many delays, the DAP is nearing completion, with all the infrastructure in place only the question of compensation has to be agreed.
How successful the DAP will be remains to be seen and should not be judged until its completion, however it does not look very promising. With the burgeoning of the population in the SE and recent legislation coupled with the demands of the EU DRiPS will need the support of all the residents of the valley who care about the river and its environs.
With the formation of the National Rivers Authority (NRA ) the Darent came under the Southern Region of the NRA, and it had to go through the lobbying process again. Fortunately after a visit by the then chairman of the NRA Lord Crickhowell declared that the Darent was top of the list of the ten worst rivers that must be saved.
The NRA ( later to become the EA ), South East WAter ( SEW ), TWA and DRiPS agreed ' The Darent Action Plan ' (DAP ).
In 2012, after many delays, the DAP is nearing completion, with all the infrastructure in place only the question of compensation has to be agreed.
How successful the DAP will be remains to be seen and should not be judged until its completion, however it does not look very promising. With the burgeoning of the population in the SE and recent legislation coupled with the demands of the EU DRiPS will need the support of all the residents of the valley who care about the river and its environs.
