We are so fortunate to have such outstanding natural beauty on our doorstep. Cannock Chase is a mix of natural environments with a huge diversity of wildlife. It attracts visitors from across the country looking to enjoy the great outdoors. However, we have another area of beauty that often gets overlooked: the River Trent.
The Trent Valley is currently undergoing many improvements designed to help nature. To learn all about this, I recently visited Staffordshire Wildlife Trust HQ just outside Rugeley, to understand more about the Transforming the Trent Valley (TTTV) project.
The TTTV project is a partnership of eighteen organisations that include environmental groups, charities and local authorities, who are all working together to improve the natural environment and the biodiversity of the River Trent and its tributaries.
Their efforts will oversee improvements to the river to help alleviate the impacts of flooding, better support local wildlife and create a more accessibility for local communities.
The project not only covers the river itself, but also it’s surrounding areas, with improvements being made to other natural environments. The recent improvements to the canal tow paths in Rugeley were part of this project.
Well done to everyone involved with this fantastic project. I am looking forward to a tour later in the year to see the works that have taken place alongside the former power station site.
If you want to learn more about the TTTV project you can visit their website at www.thetrentvalley.org.uk.
I am also pleased that the issue of sewage dumping in rivers has been brought under greater scrutiny in recent months. Despite claims to the contrary, as your MP I have always been clear that sewage in our rivers is totally unacceptable. I have only ever voted to strengthen requirements on water companies and support the Government's action on this matter. Indeed, I am pleased that tackling storm overflows remains a priority for this Government, not only to protect public health but also the environment.
I voted for targets through the Environment Act to strengthen the rules on pollution from sewage. I also called on, and supported, the new plans for the water regulator, Ofwat, to take action against water companies who pay out dividends to their shareholders despite failing to meet required performance standards. We have just given Ofwat the powers they needed to do this. I understand that Ofwat is now modifying utility licences to require companies to take account of environmental performance and customer delivery when deciding whether to pay dividends to shareholders.
I am pleased that everyone, both locally and nationally, is working together to ensure that the health of our rivers is improving. As I am sure you will agree, our natural environment is something that should be protected and preserved for future generations.
As always, if you require my help with anything at all, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk or by telephone on 01543 877142.
