Wonderful news came through on Tuesday 18th July that the government has agreed to provide explicit consideration to chalk streams in the Levelling Up Bill.
A bill designed amongst other things to restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost.
This important campaign to Level Up forgotten chalk streams began when Nikki da Costa spoke with Richard Meredith Hardy, a founding member and active committee member of RevIvel,about the plight of the Upper Ivel and chalk streams more generally. Nikki, as her page on gov.uk states, served as Director of Legislative Affairs for 2 Prime Ministers – Theresa May and Boris Johnson – and is a recognised authority on the UK’s legislative and parliamentary processes. Her expert knowledge proved invaluable. Nikki pointed out the potential for the Levelling Up Bill to provide specific protection and a driver for improvements and restoration to chalk streams.
Richard put Nikki in touch with Charles Rangeley-Wilson ( guest speaker at last years Revivel Annual General Meeting), Stuart Singleton-White (Angling Trust) and Lord Trenchard, a supporter of chalk streams. Between them all they started on the case for a simple amendment to the Levelling Up Bill.
Much more information about this important development can be found on Charles Rangley Wilson Chalk Steams website and clicking on this link https://chalkstreams.org/2023/07/20/levelling-up-chalk-streams/