attended a meeting in Westminster yesterday to debate the drought orders etc
In attendance were, 4 MPs,1 Lord,about a dozen water reps,the Royal Horticultural Society,CPRE,and various academics and watchdog bodies. I had been asked to attend to represent the APWC and put forward matters for the industry.
It was very interesting opening meeting
Topics discussed included, the recharge of the aquifer reserves, water grids, the effect of PPG on supplies, EU water framework directives. Which I was able to contribute towards.
I was able to inform the meeting of the situation in Yorkshire where following a drought a few years ago water is now piped around the area to overcome local shortages.
Also I put across the serious affect these orders will have on our industry and asked that common sense be used, it has to be appreciated that where a person has made a serious investment to address WAHD they are not penalised then for living/working in the south.
I was very pleased with the network of contacts established and the hopes that future liaison will continue.
delegates also expressed their thanks for the industry being represented and for the comments made.
Martyn