December 2011
Eyes and ears
needed to create greener streams
A new initiative as part of the Greenstreams Project is now
underway to help make the most of arguably, one of Huddersfield’s most under valued assets, the River. The project aims
to bring to task those offenders who still have not cleaned up their act and litter the riverbanks with their rubbish. Beth Allcock
from Environmental Alliance said, “there are now many more people using the river for informal recreation.
This is a result of massive investment over the last 10 years to clean up the river and improve public access to it. However,
because of irresponsible and careless behaviour by a relatively few people the riverbanks continue to be littered in places,
especially by discarded plastic and metal sheeting. This is a real put off for those wishing to visit the river where fish
and wildlife now thrive, and means local community groups have to waste their time cleaning up after others.” However, the
Greenstreams Project with the support of Kirklees Council Enforcement Team, the Examiner and helpers in local businesses and
amongst community groups, is now out on the riverbank surveying and identifying the culprits.
Having established
the location of problem sites where waste materials are pouring into the river, Environmental Alliance will invite the offenders
to clean up their act with a little help and guidance on how best to do this. Should the response be less than enthusiastic
in helping others in looking after this great asset, the Council’s Enforcement Team will be called in to deal with the
offenders. Hopefully though this will be unnecessary. Another important part of the project will be the eyes and ears on the riverbank
and for this we will be enlisting the help of community groups and local businesses to alert us to any problems.
So
far funding has been provided from Kirklees Council’s Environment Grant scheme to undertake work on the River Colne
between Marsden and Huddersfield but additional funding is being sought to work on the River Holme and the Colne down to Cooper
Bridge. If you know of a problem site on the River Colne between Marsden and Huddersfield please call.
Grosvenor fire - River pollution
Greenstreams
and its partners are monitoring the River to understand the levels of pollution and impact on the environment from the Grosvenor
Chemicals recent fire. This is an ongoing event which will take many months to complete.
Wild Trout Trust undertake audit for Greenstreams.
An
audit was completed by the Wild Trout Trust looking at stretches of the River Colne and lower River Holme. the purpose
of the report was to address the environmental issues of the rivers and to investigate potential ways of providing help.
The report is available by clicking on the link below the text.
Click here to Download WTT Report
Picture accredited "P.Gaskell WTT"