Restricting
water access could harm food production, warns CLA
THE CLA is calling for
agriculture to be exempt from new government proposals to reduce
access to water. Responding to the Government's water abstraction
consultation, Making the most of every drop, the Association says
that unless farmers are given secure access to water, UK food
production could be seriously compromised. But what should be done
to support for water customers struggling to pay their water bills?
This is one of the issues discussed at the next meeting of the
Consumer Council for Water's (CCWater) Northern Committee on
Tuesday, 8 April 2014.
CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said:-
"Agriculture represents less than 1% of the total licensed volumes
of water, and should be removed from the abstraction regime. The
Government's proposals must guarantee food businesses have secure
access to water if essential food security is to be maintained. A
system that restricts the ability to abstract water during very low
river flows could harm crops, fruit and vegetables and hinder food
production."
The Government is proposing 2 key options. The 1st Current System
Plus; would allow people to abstract up to a fixed annual volume of
water with daily limits and conditions. The Water Shares option
would see the Government decide on the total allocation of water to
be abstracted in part of a catchment and divvy up the share
accordingly. The new proposals would also automatically revoke
unused abstraction licenses, which the CLA claims would cause
serious problems for the agricultural industry.
Miss Fairburn said:- "Food businesses have strategic reasons
as to why licensed volumes of water may not be fully used, for
instance excessive rainfall or crop rotation. Abstractors must 1st
be given the chance to justify their need for water, and if the
decision to revoke a licence is maintained, there should be the
option to sell or transfer it."
If you attend the Water's (CCWater) Northern Committee on Tuesday, 8
April 2014, in Malmaison Hotel, 1 to 3 Piccadilly, Manchester from
10am, you will be able to find out about packages companies have put
in place to support those who are struggling to pay their water
bill, and their current thinking on developing new tariffs to help
the most vulnerable. You can also raise the questions the CLA are
asking. There will also be an update on how each of the companies
are performing, as well as details of the new prices customers will
be charged for water and sewerage services from April. Looking
further ahead the meeting will also consider progress on the process
which will see the regulator Ofwat set water price limits for 2015
to 2020 later this year.
Andrea Cook, chair of CCWater's Northern Committee, said:-
"These meetings are a good opportunity for customers in our region
to find out how their water company is performing. Affordability is
a big issue for many customers and there will be a chance to learn
more about the support available for those who are struggling to pay
their water bill."
Water customers will also have the opportunity to raise any issues
of interest or concerns they might have during a listening session
at the beginning of the meeting.
To confirm your attendance call Barbara Leech on:- 01325 728034 or
email:-
Barbara.leech@ccwater.org.uk.
Will you help save St
Luke's Church, Liverpool?
A local action group are
asking the public to help save St Luke's Church, aka the Bombed
Church, located at the top of Blod Street in Liverpool. The remains
of the church are facing re-development bid by a property group. The
group say that the site is a well known manorial to the civilians
who lost their lives in WW2. They are now asking for people to sign
a
petition, in the hopes they can
save it. But what are your views on the idea of the re-development
of the land? |
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Letters to the
Editor:- "Lack of Southport Pleasureland Signs"
"I am writing this having
just spent a day outside of Southport. Having driven back, I notice
that as a new holiday season approaches, our local authority still
seem to have no intention of placing Southport Pleasureland on the
tourism sign posts as you approach Southport by road. My question is
WHY? As Norman Wallis is clearly investing a lot of his own money in
landscaping the site, it is becoming an asset to the town, which we
should be shouting about. Come on Sefton, be fair!!!" David
Ashurst, Southport.
Editor's
comments:- "As far as we are
aware it is the Highways Agency that is part of the Department for
Transport (DfT) who are responsible for operating, maintaining and
improving the Brown Tourist Signs. As far as we are aware the signs
that have been painted over, when Pleasureland closed back in
2006,
so it might be that they are treating it as a new application, even
though it was re-opened back in
2007.
Sadly, if that is the case, then they might say that new applicants
must pay the cost of any tourist signs provided on the road network
DfT.
If that is the case, it could be astronomically high for Norman
Wallis to get the signage done. But the signs become the property of
the relevant Highway Authority, so that they can be maintained as
required during their life, so it might be a case that they can
reinstall them on request from Sefton MBC. We have sent your letter
to a representative of Sefton MBC to see if we can get a comment
back for you and also to the Highways Agency. This is a very good
question and one that has been asked a few times last year and this
year, but it is the first time we have had it in writing, so we can
now officially ask."
If you have any views on this
topic or any information on tourist signage that is relevant to this
issue, then please do let us know by
emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
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