The issue of nitrate and phosphate pollution of rivers was raised at the CPRE Countryside Forum (Campaign for Protection of Rural England) Meeting on 17th September. Suzanne Keene has written an article highlighting the issue for our Autumn Magazine (due out week beginning 18th October) following a Farm Meeting on ‘Diversify your rotation’ hosted by Wessex Water. Of particular interest, are ways to control the pollution that is poisoning our streams and rivers.

Nitrates are washed out of the soil during agricultural activities, and phosphates are mainly generated from domestic wastewater. The phosphates neutrality crisis is preventing planning permissions from being granted across much of the area in Somerset and could particularly impact smaller developments in Dorset that may not be able to afford an expensive system to deal with the issue.