Protecting our Chalk Streams: Meeting with National Highways on M4 Runoff

As part of my ongoing work to protect Newbury and West Berkshire’s natural environment, I recently met with National Highways to discuss the impact of motorway and trunk road runoff on our local chalk streams, including the River Lambourn and the Pang.

National Highways confirmed that they have reviewed the M4 and A34 outflow locations in our constituency. While most sites are not currently causing concern, they recently refurbished one outlet where the M4 crosses the River Lambourn. When I asked how they were monitoring the effectiveness of that work, they admitted they were not – but have now agreed to add it to a new monitoring plan they are developing. They will also provide me with data on A34 runoff locations, which I will review once received.

This discussion follows the stakeholder roundtable I hosted earlier this year, which brought together the Environment Agency, Action for the River Kennet (ARK), and others. Since then, both the Agency and ARK have separately met with National Highways to press for action. ARK’s own testing showed clear evidence of pollution in the Pang, and I am pleased that National Highways has now acknowledged one of their settlement tanks is “beyond maintenance” and committed to addressing it within their formal response framework.

It is clear, however, that progress is slow and the Pang is not currently at the top of their national priority list. That is why it is vital that we keep pushing locally to ensure chalk streams are given the protection they deserve. These rivers are globally rare habitats, and here in Newbury we are fortunate to have some of the most important chalk streams running right through our community.

I will continue to work closely with ARK, the Environment Agency, West Berkshire Council and local landowners to make sure these commitments are followed through, and that funding from National Highways’ designated funds is directed towards projects that will make a real difference to our waterways.