A big part of why so many people want to live in South Buckinghamshire is the beautiful landscape we inhabit. Our area is genuinely stunning, with the rolling foothills of the Chilterns, ancient woodlands, and winding rivers and brooks stretching across the constituency.
I am particularly focused on our waterways, and how we can keep them clean and free from contamination. South Buckinghamshire plays host to the mighty Thames as well as a number of its brooks and streams. We also have a number of sites where water companies are potentially discharging sewage into our rivers. I have regular contact with Thames Water, having made it clear to them, in no uncertain terms, that their discharges are completely unacceptable.
I very much welcomed the passing of the Environment Act in 2021, and the steps it took to ensure that our water companies are fixing the problem for the future. I have made the argument for strong and stringent checks in the consultation on the implementation of the Environment Act. I keep in close contact with DEFRA and the Environment Agency, to make sure that our natural environment is properly managed and stewarded.
It is imperative therefore that we protect, restore, and renew the legacy we have been left, ensuring that our beautiful landscape is left fit for future generations to enjoy. There are a great many fantastic ways we can work towards these goals, and a lot of local people and groups keen to help.
I am engaging as much as possible with these local groups, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to carry on doing the excellent work they do. Last year I brought together a number of these local groups to form the South Bucks Nature Forum, with the aim to share ideas and expertise on how we can protect and preserve our natural environment.
This proved to be very useful with the consultation on the implementation of the Environment Act, where it was demonstrated to be an efficient and useful vessel for communicating the views of local people to the Government. In almost all cases these issues require detailed local knowledge, so it is incredibly important to connect with these grassroots organisations.
