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Jun 2024
Volunteers sought to form group to improve River Ure water quality
A meeting is being held to find volunteers willing to help tackle pollution in the River Ure.
The first Health of the River Ure meeting was held by the Association of Rural Communities on April 30.
The administrative officer, Pip Pointon, told the Stray Ferret its purpose was to gauge concerns about the river and what the public feel could be done to improve the water quality.
Ms Pointon said the response to the first meeting was “amazing”, adding that several people had since expressed interest in forming a group to take action.
Another meeting will be held this month with the aim of setting up a group similar to the Nidd Action Group, which worked to achieve bathing water status for the River Nidd.
Ms Pointon said ahead of the upcoming meeting:
At that meeting I wish to hand over the organisation of the River Ure group and would like to see a committee formed to carry it forward.
Ms Pointon told the Stray Ferret representatives of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and Yorkshire Water's river health team will attend the meeting, adding:
We are looking for more volunteers so as to ensure there are water samples taken from every part of the river and its tributaries from around Appersett to Ripon.
We also recognise that there are those who want to support such a group but won’t be able to take part in water sampling. So all will be welcome.
The move comes just weeks after Knaresborough Lido, on the River Nidd, was granted bathing water status by the Environment Agency.
This means authorities are obliged to act if the water does not pass regulatory checks during bathing season (May to September).
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 25 at 6pm at Leyburn Methodist Church Hall.
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