SETTING THE AGENDA
IMAGE: MURILO GOMES
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ew CLA members do not have any concerns about water. We regularly receive enquiries about private water supplies, abstraction charges, fl ood prevention and water level management, building or maintaining reservoirs and regulatory changes to protect water quality. We are working with governments and enforcement agencies to tackle the problems – it is not always easy or quick, but it is essential. Two examples in 2021 were the introduction of Wales-wide Agricultural Pollution regulations and changes in the enforcement of England’s Farming Rules for Water, which resulted in a near-banning of slurry and manure applications on arable land in autumn. These have a significant impact on farming practices, and neither allows for a more sensible risk-based approach that would allow the farmer or land manager to make their own judgment. The CLA and other industry groups worked to challenge and develop a
Land Use Policy Adviser Alice Green sets out the work the CLA has done on water access and management, and our new water strategy
better solution. The CLA Cymru team is diffuse water pollution. A case for improved involved in several stakeholder groups to local data, advice and partnership working ensure that the pollution regulations are was put forward, alongside a risk-based introduced in a way that does not approach to ensure that farming unfairly compromise the viability operations could still continue with Re a d t of Welsh farms and that the appropriate safeguards. he CLA’s substantial Welsh Government The Water Strategy has Strateg Water y by vis support is offered to manage also supported our lobbying iting cla.org .uk/p the transition. activity on the Environment clas-vis olicy/ io Bill in England, one aspect of water-2 n030 which concerns the compulsory CLA Water Strategy removal of abstraction licences The CLA’s Water Strategy was where there is environmental damage, published in 2021, following member and the issue of compensation for farmers. consultation. The document sets out the This has not been fully resolved, but water vision that by 2030, rural land-based supply issues will become more common businesses have reliable access to water and acute in the future, given the impacts supplies, are resilient to the risks of fl ood of climate change. It is essential that and drought, and are recognised for their we have fair systems to ensure reliable stewardship of water quality and resources. supplies of water for crop and livestock It refl ects all the issues faced by members, production. The CLA is working with all and the identified key asks of government. the water resource groups in England and The value of the document was recognised Wales to support local decision-making on when the CLA was invited to give evidence sustainable supplies. to the Westminster Environment Audit As we head into 2022, we know that Committee, which was investigating water water issues are going to be front quality. The charge was that and centre for many members farmers and land managers and for governments. We have were not doing enough to already had three government protect water quality. We consultations related to were able to explain that abstraction and environmental landowners have a stake in permitting, all of which have water cleanliness for their implications for members. We private water supplies, are here to help, so please fishing rights and other contact your national or recreations, and are regional team if you equally frustrated at the have questions. di culty in addressing
A vision for water CLA ANNUAL 2022
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