The Environment Agency in the Midlands is appealing for more people to tell us what they think about a document called ‘River Basin Planning: Working Together for the River Severn’.

Mark Scott, Programme Manager for the Severn River Basin District,said: “We are pleased with the interest shown so far but we would like to see more responses. This document gives people the chance to influence the way the Water Framework Directive works for the next nine years, and with a month left of the consultation period, now is the ideal time to get involved”.

This document is the first in a series of three Water Framework Directive (WFD) publications for public consultation, allowing anyone with an interest in the water environment or the river basin planning process the opportunity to comment.

The Water Framework Directive requires waters in England and Wales to meet certain standards by 2015. This new European regulation requires us to establish new and better ways of protecting and improving rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters.

The document is available at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd and we welcome your views on the document and its proposals for how we will work together for the future of our water environment. The web-based system is quick and easy to use and has the advantage of allowing you to view other people’s responses, and to copy your responses to other River Basin Districts if you wish. It greatly helps us to monitor, collate and report the responses efficiently. Therefore we encourage you to use it.

However, if you are unable to access the internet and respond online, representations can be made via email to severnRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk, or in writing to: Environment Agency (Water Framework Directive Programme), Sapphire East, 550 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, B91 1QT. You can also write to us at this address to request a copy of the consultation document. The consultation is open until 22 June 2007- and everyone’s views are welcome.

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