The show of cross-party support follows the government’s decision to vote down key chalk stream protection amendments at Committee stage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. MPs are now urging the Government to protect chalk streams in their planning reforms, and accept an amendment at the Commons Report stage on 9th June.
Hosted by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife, in partnership with Wildlife Trusts across the country, the event called for amendments to the Bill that would safeguard irreplaceable chalk streams – biodiverse ecosystems predominately found in Southern England. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, iconic rivers such as the Itchen, Test and Loddon, plus Caul Bourne and Lukely Brook on the Isle of Wight, face increasing pressure from over-abstraction of water to serve development in inappropriate locations.
Chalk streams are exceptionally rare, with only around 200 in the world. Despite their international importance, these rivers remain under-protected in planning law. The Trust’s Save Our Chalk Streams campaign is calling for a special protection for these globally rare habitats in planning, which could be delivered by the Planning & Infrastructure Bill.
MPs are working together to create new planning protections for chalk streams, applied to spatial development strategies created by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Chalk streams amendments have garnered significant support among cross-party MPs, with Chris Hinchliff’s amendment at Committee Stage attracting 14 sponsors and Gideon Amos’ amendment attracting nine sponsors.
Lorna Selby, Policy and Advocacy Officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “Chalk streams are fundamentally irreplaceable habitats which must be protected. We are deeply concerned that recent Government rhetoric has sought to undermine the true significance of these vulnerable habitats and justify the existing gap in protections.
“Today gives us real hope. MPs from across the country and political divide have come together to demand action and speak up for these precious ecosystems. We urge the Government to listen, think again, recognise the shortcomings of existing policy and accept a chalk streams amendment at Commons Report stage.”
