THE River Wye catchment, the heart and arteries of our county, is dying from pollution.

This affects the health of residents and also many other interests, including tourism, in the county and beyond. The problem derives from phosphates from sewage treatment and agriculture.

This is being partially addressed by the moratorium on some new domestic building, in part of the catchment. However, the main problem seems to be elsewhere: some chicken farming. 

George Monbiot's heart-wrenching documentary Rivercide examines the problem, and I urge all those interested in the future of our county to view it via the internet: rivercide.tv.

It seems that the under-resourced Environment Agency (EA) should be doing more to address the problem.

The equivalent body, in Wales, seems to be potentially more engaging and proactive.

Monbiot shows that one group of people, on the river Wharfe, in Ilkley, Yorkshire (co-incidentally where I used to swim and fish, as a boy), has taken a similar situation into their own hands by registering their river as a designated bathing water.

Here, the EA is legally obliged to monitor, regularly. The French are doing similar on a wide scale.

Perhaps we should be doing this here. No time to lose!

Richard Bradbury
Much Cowarne

Would you like to see the river Wye classed as designated bathing water?

Have your say HERE or email letters@herefordtimes.com