Wiltshire has been the epicentre of life and culture on this island for thousands of years. This is, in large part, due to its position as the triple hydrological divide of the South of England. To the west, the Bristol Avon meanders to Bristol Channel and out into the Atlantic; to the south, the Wiltshire Avon catchment drains into the English Channel; and, to the east, the Kennet flows towards the Thames, and into the North Sea. The abundance of clean water has helped humans thrive for millennia in this part of the world.
The current state of our rivers, and particularly our world-renowned chalk streams, is cause for serious concern. Untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and domestic cleaning products are just a few of the issues affecting these finely balanced ecosystems which form the ecological arteries of the country.
It is with these issues in mind that I have been working with local groups and my fellow MPs to improve the appalling situation we find ourselves in. Below you can find some of the issues I have worked on over the past few years. I will continue to push for further action on this important area.
