The collaborative project will be led by the Wandle Trust with the Environment Agency helping to train Wandle Trust staff and volunteers so that they are able to attend minor incidents on the river.
When notified by the Environment Agency, the Wandle Trust volunteers will provide a first line of response to assess the situation and report back to the Environment Agency who will then react accordingly. It is hoped that this newly established partnership will enable local Wandle Trust volunteers to keep an eye on the river, facilitating a more efficient response to all pollution incidents.
Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, said:
“Working with community groups is crucial in ensuring the vitality of our rivers and waterways, and the Wandle Trust is a superb example of residents taking an active interest in the health of their local environment.
Rivers in England and Wales are the healthiest they have been for 20 years, but it is important that we do more to continue this improvement and meet stringent new EU standards. I’m confident that our work with the Wandle Trust will enable us all to do just that.”
Anyone interested in getting involved in the project should contact Tim at pollution@wandletrust.org
