The Clean River Kent Campaign will focus on the following priorities for 2025:
Political:
– Explore legal pathways to challenge pollution
– Contribute to national initiatives and consultations
– Produce position statement re. water industry reform
– Maintain active links with national and local campaign groups
– Maintain and extend active links with local MPs, councillors
– Keep abreast of / informed about policy issues
Local Engagement:
– Hold a seminar on Rights of the River to explore the concept of what it means, to whom
– Explore opportunities for bathing status, as part of a ‘green/blue masterplan for Kendal’
– Attend Clean Water Clean Streets meetings (Staveley & wider Kent) to ensure United Utilities / agencies deliver required infrastructure changes
– Deliver campaign ‘What you can do to help river Kent’ (septic tank owners, pet owners, householders) including marketing materials, talks, events
– Maintain active links with local organisations/collaborate on activities including Lakeland Canoe Club (LCC) & Westmorland Angling Association.
– Deliver presentations, seminars, talks on request
– Support relevant education initiatives
– Engage with Natural Kendal nature recovery activities, including their River Festival
Citizen Science:
– Keep abreast of technical developments and evidence
– Attend Kent Working Group
– Engage with EA, NE, Kent Working Group to collaborate on monitoring data, share information and hold partners to account
– Develop and deliver a reactive / proactive testing programme (focus on P and coliform bacteria) with local volunteers (eg. around WwTws / hot spots)
– Collaborate in and/or establish further research/studies as appropriate
– Maintain and upgrade interactive map
– Promote partners’ practical monitoring/conservation work to CRKC volunteers