29/09/06
Defra's final guidance to the Environment Agency on River Basin Planning is a good example of true stakeholder involvement.
Input from the Defra national WFD stakeholder group was actively sought and efforts made to accommodate their views.
The guidance recognises, as does the Water Framework Directive itself, that it will be necessary to extend some measures beyond the first cycle (2015). The Agency is encouraged to consider scenarios through the three planning cycles, up to 2027, as necessary.
This is crucial if realistic and truly sustainable solutions are to be implemented without adversely impacting the climate or wasting investment through end-of-pipe solutions.
Published in The View from Water UK 29/09/06
