River Churnet

HC Deb 13 July 1976 vol 915 c138W

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on pollution in the River Churnet.

Mr. John Silkin

In the 1973 updating of the River Pollution Survey, the River Churnet was graded as follows:

• 3.9 Km Class 1 (Unpolluted and recovered from pollution).
• 10.1 Km Class 2 (Of doubtful quality needing improvement).
• 12.1 Km Class 3 (Of poor quality requiring improvement as a matter of some urgency).
• 10 Km Class 4 (Grossly polluted).

I understand from the Severn-Trent Water Authority that its records indicate that the river is showing a gradual trend towards improvement in quality.