THE Ross on Wye Angling Club is bitterly disappointed with the Environment Agency’s Diffuse Water Pollution Plan for the River Wye.

Dr Peter Richardson, the club’s secretary, pointed out that Environment Agency’s plan is totally inadequate to effectively address and reverse the pollution crisis the River Wye now faces.

He said: “We join a growing chorus of voices in calling for the urgent declaration of a cross-border Water Protection Zone now to save the River Wye, and the strongest programme of measures to be implemented in the upcoming revisions of the River Basin Management Plans for the Wye in England and Wales that will specifically target and reverse agricultural and waste-water pollution.

“We also call for enforcement action against polluters breaking the law, and financial support for those farmers keen transition to river-friendly, regenerative farming along the Wye.”

Dr Richardson says that the River Wye is still alive at present– along the club’s stretches as members have recorded over 80 species of birds, including good populations of the fish-eating species, as well as water shrew and otter.

Course fishing is excellent, with impressive catches of pristine barbel and chub landed regularly through the summer, and yet more chub in the winter, with one angler catching over 60lb of chub in just a few hours this last weekend.

“The river is not yet dead and still has the abundance of life it will need to recover, if only we give it a chance,” said Dr Richardson.

“So one can understand why in recent years we have been appalled, outraged and devastated by the terrible impacts of uncontrolled pollution on the health of our much-valued river ecosystem.

“This is largely from agricultural phosphate run-off further upstream, but also to some degree from ubiquitous, poorly-managed waste water treatment in the catchment. We see and smell the pollution on a daily basis – and it hurts our hearts.”