Taunton Extinction Rebellion to hold River Tone campaign event

From 11am, campaigners in hazmat suits will be on the bridge in Taunton town centre to draw attention to river pollution - with similar actions taking place across the South West.

A statement from the group says: "People of all ages enjoy fishing, canoeing and kayaking, cooling off in the river or just enjoying the wildlife and riverside walks.

"But this autumn a report from the Environment Agency revealed that all of England’s rivers had failed tests for chemical pollution, and only 14 per cent were rated good for wildlife and plants.

"None are designated safe for bathing.

Pollutants include agricultural waste and slurry, chemicals and raw sewage."

Action is being taken, with The Agriculture Act - which became law on November 11, 2020 - including measures to improve management of farm slurry, while a government Task Force is looking at ways to reduce sewage pollution.

A private member’s bill, The Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill is due for its second reading in the House of Commons on January 15, 2021.

Campaigners believe that a lot can still be done, however, with Emma Howard Boyd, chairman of the Environment Agency, arguing the nation’s approach to water needs to be transformed if the government’s plan for clean and plentiful water is to be achieved.

A spokesperson for Taunton Extinction Rebellion added: “It's important that people know about the health of their local lakes and rivers.

"Wildlife is under great threat, and we need urgent action to make our rivers safe for people and nature.

"The report shows that progress has stalled.

“The UK’s nine private water companies obtain licences to release untreated sewage into rivers at times of heavy rainfall, to avoid flooding.

"But it happens at other times, too - and climate change makes extreme weather more common.

"Wessex Water, one of the better performing companies, released raw sewage on 13,876 occasions in 2019."