21 Jul 2022

Environment Secretary George Eustice has confirmed Alan Lovell DL as the new Chair of the Environment Agency. Environment Secretary George Eustice said: Alan will bring a wide range of experience, enthusiasm and leadership to the role and I am delighted he will be the next Chair of the Environment Agency. His knowledge and experience will […]

21 Jul 2022

The Government has today (20 July, 2022) committed to improving reservoir safety through reforms to the regulatory regime and modernisation of the Reservoirs Act 1975 as it accepted all of the recommendations of the second part of an independent review by Professor David Balmforth. With the review recognising the strong safety track record of reservoirs in England, the […]

19 Jul 2022

The deaths of thousands of crabs, lobsters and other marine life in the north-east of England should be reinvestigated, a council has said. Mass wash-ups have happened along the coast since October 2021. Our previous coverage can be read here. The BBC has now reported that Redcar and Cleveland council along with Middlesbrough and Hartlepool […]

12 Jul 2022

The UK government has announced the opening of a consultation on five potential Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in England. As we covered on 21 June 2022, the Guardian leaked the five sites in advance of Defra’s announcement. Defra said in its press release: ‘HPMAs will have the highest levels of protection in our seas. […]

29 Jun 2022

The Environment Secretary has selected Alan Lovell DL as the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of the Environment Agency. Mr Lovell’s selection followed a rigorous process conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will now hold […]

28 Jun 2022

The Guardian has reported that guidance that would have allowed farmers to spread manures and slurry on land in a way that would overload it with nutrients and risk pollution of rivers, lakes and coastal waters has been changed by Defra, after a challenge over its lawfulness. Manures, which include sewage sludge, abattoir waste and […]

28 Jun 2022

The Telegraph has published an opinion piece on the importance of water quality to public health, written by: Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty; Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd; and Ofwat Chair, Jonson Cox. Defra Media have subsequently published details of the article on their website: ‘The joint article highlights that while no […]