On the 25th of January, a small group of FOSP members attended a Gloucester City Council full Council meeting. Two members presented two questions to the council and because the petition had over 1000 signatories, a debate ensued. I would like to thank the person who initiated the petition, who also had a question put to the meeting.

The event was covered by Gloucestershire Live and here are the outcomes.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/calls-dredge-smelly-beauty-spot-9065319.amp?IYA-mail=9c4f0482-b21a-41b8-81e6-f32403bcaa46

and Petition to dredge ‘smelly’ pond denied by council

As FOSP chair, there were a few positive outcomes from the debate. Two proposals were put forward and voted on, but only one passed, put forward by Cllr Andrew Gravells.

I would like to thank him personally for championing FOSP’s concerns regarding the build-up of silt in the balancing pond, which is currently transitioning due to succession from open water to wet woodland. Hopefully, in a couple of months, we will have some positive news to report back, but I believe FOSP and our reliable partners will be able to move things forward.

In the meantime, my research into how to manage our natural water resources has led me to https://www.stormwatershepherds.org.uk

Stormwater Shepherds UK was featured in a BBC Article about pollution from road run-off in the UK. This is important as the amount of run-off from roads carries many chemicals and pollutants into the national water course from the source to the sea.

On January 10th 2024, CIWEM launched their document ‘A Fresh Water Future’ at a well-attended event at the House of Commons. The document sets out 10 recommendations to improve water sector performance and governance, and it will help all political parties to craft their manifestos as the General Election looms, hopefully incorporating promises to act upon many of the recommendations. Stormwater Shepherds UK was pleased to be involved in the composition of this document in a small way, and we hope very much that the politicians listen to, and act upon, the recommendations.

You can read the document in full here: https://www.ciwem.org/news/a-fresh-water-future-report-has-been-launched