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Mar 2023

Last Updated: 13/03/2023

Environment

Public meeting to save River Nidd in Knaresborough from 'ecological disaster'

by John Plummer

| 02 Mar, 2023

River Nidd at Knaresborough

A public meeting is being held in Knaresborough this month as part of a campaign to achieve bathing water status on part of the River Nidd.

Concerns about Nidd water quality increased last summer amid reports of numerous people falling ill.

Nidd Action Group, which includes individual Knaresborough town councillors, environmental campaigners, anglers, councillors and community groups, is holding the meeting at Gracious Street Methodist Church on March 14.

Members of the public are invited to attend to find out how they can get involved.

The action group was formed after Nidd Catchment Angling Group held a meeting in October last year to address water quality concerns.

The action group aims to achieve bathing water status at the Lido, which would oblige the Environment Agency to put plans in place to monitor and protect the water.

Knaresborough town councillor Shan Oakes said:

"The campaign is focussing on raising public awareness and initially getting bathing water status for parts of the Nidd near the town including the Lido – which would then lead to an imperative to clean up the whole river."

Academics and research students from the University of Leeds will give short talks at the meeting on the issues and those involved will answer questions.

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A leaflet advertising the event says the Nidd "is facing ecological disaster due to pollution (especially sewage)".

It adds:

"Presentations will be repeated each hour—3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6pm so it doesn’t matter what time you turn up: any time between 3-6pm.

"This event is a conversation: the campaign team would like to hear about how you use and value the river.

"There will be opportunity to join the campaign as a volunteer, and also to sign up to take part in bathing water status consultation this summer—an essential step towards a 'Cleaner Nidd, Fit for Life'."

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has also been campaigning for bathing water status on the Nidd. It is understood a member of his staff will attend the meeting.

Last year Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxford became only the second inland waterway in the country, after the River Wharfe in Ilkley, to be awarded bathing water status by the government.

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Public meeting to save River Nidd in Knaresborough from 'ecological disaster'

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