JESSE Norman has written a joint letter with other Wyeside Conservative MPs calling for Government cash of up to £15m to tackle phosphate pollution in the river.

The south Herefordshire MP has joined North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin, Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones and Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper in writing to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury asking for a three-year integrated spending package in the forthcoming Spending Review specifically focused on cleaning up the Wye.

The MPs believe this could be funded from fines handed out to water companies for unpermitted pollution discharges.

In their letter to Simon Clarke, they say: "There is a very serious issue of phosphate pollution in the Wye, which is having grievous environmental consequences for marine and plant life in the river, threatening the wider ecosystem, undermining tourism and recreation, and leading to the imposition of bans on building and other development which are damaging the local economy".

They add that the Wye Phosphates Working Group was formed 18 months ago "to focus attention on the issue and bring the key agencies, Natural Resources Wales, the Environment Agency and Natural England, and the Nutrient Management Board, local councils, the water companies and other stakeholders together"."What we need is a clearly designated, coordinated and responsible cross-border and cross-agency taskforce with accountable individual leadership tasked with tackling phosphate pollution in the River Wye, according to an agreed and properly funded strategy," they argue. "Unfortunately, it is now quite clear that this is not going to happen without real leadership and support from HM Government, in conjunction with the Welsh Government.

"Good progress has been made by DEFRA and MHCLG, now DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) ministers, but we need to give more priority and urgency to this work."

They say the need for urgency was "specifically recognised" by the Deputy Prime Minister in response to a question in the House from Mr Norman last month, when Dominic Raab said: "The Government understand, and my right Hon Friend champions eloquently, the importance of the River Wye. We will do everything we can to support him with preserving it for future generations."

And the for MPs continue: "We are therefore making a request, and a recommendation. The request is that you agree a three-year integrated spending package with DEFRA and DLUHC in the forthcoming Spending Review, specifically focused on cleaning up the Wye.

"The outline cost of this is likely to be in the range £10-£15m, but it should be scaled to the need."

Mr Norman and his colleagues say an effective long-term approach will require "considerable amounts" of testing and enforcement, among other things, which will "inevitably bear a cost".

"But that cost is extremely small compared to the critical current impacts, let alone a potential full-scale crisis," they claim.

"If these issues are not addressed it is also quite possible, some would say likely, that the wider Wye Valley catchment area will be subject to further restrictions on economic development, which would seriously affect human wellbeing, local economic growth and levelling up."

Pointing to a fine of £90m imposed on Southern Water recently for 7,000 unpermitted pollution discharges and other fines, the four MPs add: "Our recommendation is that you consider using some of these fines to fund the clean-up of at-risk rivers, and in particular the Wye.

"This would be a highly appropriate use of the funds received, and it would send a wider signal that polluters should and will be made to pay for damage to the environment."

They have also urged the Minister to meet them to discuss the situation when Parliament reconvenes.