COMPLETION OF THE DARENT ACTION PLAN, Spring 2013
Westminster Mill, 2013
The Darent Action Plan, a multimillion pound project to help safeguard the river, is now completed. However, that is far from the end of the story. Local communities must stay vigilant to ensure best outcomes for the river. The meeting on April 2013 recorded a vote of thanks to the three speakers. They are Jamie Riches of Thames Water, Chris Topping and Frank Heeley of the Environment Agency. These speakers are good friends of DRiPS and have kept us informed throughout the years. To see the EA presentation, click here. To read the Thames Water presentation, click here
Question time : The main topic was the European Water Framework Directive. (WFD) and how it could affect the Darent. This is a very complex directive and it is difficult to understand how the Darent should be treated the same as all European rivers, as it is such a fragile chalk stream. No two rivers are the same and each river needs different solutions to its problems. We look forward to taking part in the next stage of the planning process in the Darent and Cray Catchment Improvement Groups and investigating the possibility for building fish passes where necessary.
There is a great deal for us to do if our river is to be strong and vibrant for all to enjoy in the future. We will of course need the support of you all. The 2013 annual meeting closed with a toast to the River Darent and the completion of the Darent Action Plan.
Question time : The main topic was the European Water Framework Directive. (WFD) and how it could affect the Darent. This is a very complex directive and it is difficult to understand how the Darent should be treated the same as all European rivers, as it is such a fragile chalk stream. No two rivers are the same and each river needs different solutions to its problems. We look forward to taking part in the next stage of the planning process in the Darent and Cray Catchment Improvement Groups and investigating the possibility for building fish passes where necessary.
There is a great deal for us to do if our river is to be strong and vibrant for all to enjoy in the future. We will of course need the support of you all. The 2013 annual meeting closed with a toast to the River Darent and the completion of the Darent Action Plan.
Westminster MILL 1996 Westminster Mill 1996
This picture of Westminster Mill was taken in 1996.
A comprehensive summary of work carried out by the Environment Agency can be read on the Horton Kirby and South Darenth website. See Revitalising The River Darent. |
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY WEBSITE
To go to the EA website and read about their webpage about the River Darent, click here
To read the EA report from 2005 about the Catchment Management Plans for the Darent and Cray click here. |
THAMES WATER
To watch a Thames Water video that explains the importance of aquifers, click here
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The Darent Action plan
In 2005, the Environment Agency commissioned a study which led to a series of recommendations for a strategy to preserve the River Darent.
To download the report in pdf format click here for Volume 1 click here for Volume 2 In January 2013, the EA now hopes to finalise the DAP and has negotiated changes to the abstraction licenses, as described here. |
