A group of anglers successfully challenged the environment secretary's claims about the impracticality of cleaning up the Upper Costa Beck river. The appeal court sided with the anglers, dismissing arguments that specific measures to restore water quality were administratively unworkable. The case highlights the broader issue of England's failing rivers, with only 16% of water bodies meeting ecological standards. Calls are growing for renewed governmental commitment to enforce effective environmental regulations and tackle pollution.
This case goes to the heart of why the government has failed to make progress towards improving the health of rivers and lakes in England.
Only 16% of waterbodies, 14% of rivers are currently achieving good ecological status, with no improvement for at least a decade.
Reed's argument that it was administratively unworkable to develop specific measures to clean up rivers was dismissed by the appeal court.
The Upper Costa Beck is a case study in regulatory inaction in the face of evidence of declining river health.
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