Martin Salter, MP for Reading West and the Government’s Angling Spokesman, is one of the sponsors of the Blueprint for Water – 10 steps to sustainable water by 2015, that was launched in Parliament this week (28 November).

The Blueprint for Water was compiled by an unprecedented coalition of environmental and angling organisations representing more than six million people.  It urges the Government to slash the amount of water wasted in homes and businesses, asks for an increase in fines for water pollution and calls for the creation of a fund to help urban and rural communities restore river catchments. The document was presented to Environment Minister, Ian Pearson, who attended the launch on Tuesday.

The Blueprint sets out a clear and achievable programme of action that the Government must take in order to meet agreed European standards for water management.  The Water Framework Directive requires the ecology of Europe’s fresh waters to be restored to health by 2015.

Martin Salter said:

“The EU Water Framework Directive presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the neglect of our water resources and freshwater environment. I strongly support what the Blueprint for Water coalition is advocating with their ten-point plan of action for sustainable water by 2015.

This is a vital step towards taking action together to prevent a water crisis in the future. We’ve taken water for granted for too long- and I hope the Blueprint will mark the beginning of a concerted effort to put this right.

Water is essential for all life. The EU Water Framework Directive provides an unprecedented opportunity for the UK Government to make a real improvement to the health of our water environment for the benefit of wildlife and people.  This is a narrow window of opportunity and we need to act on it now.”

Graham Wynne, Chief Executive of the RSPB said:

“Water, rivers and wetlands have helped shape our nation, our wildlife and the way we think about ourselves.

Yet today many of our waterways are devoid of the fish, plants and animals they once supported, our wetlands have been lost and our rivers are polluted and over-abstracted.

Unless things change the country will become increasingly parched and lifeless and we will all end up paying far too high a price for the shameful way we use and abuse our water.”

Mark Lloyd, Executive Director of the Anglers Conservation Association, said:

“The ACA regards the Blueprint as absolutely vital to safeguard our rivers and waterways. Anglers are often able to see at first hand the damage we are doing to our water and its wildlife. Without adequate protection for our rivers there will be no fishing.” 

Martin Salter added:

“I am pleased to see that the organisations representing Britain’s 3 million Anglers have thrown their weight behind the Blueprint for Water. Anglers depend on healthy fish stocks and healthy fish stocks require clean water and good ecosystems. Angling has now placed itself firmly at the heart of the environmental movement which is where it belongs.”

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