Latest (August 2008) - Extract from the Farmers Weekly Web :

Any polytunnel complex is dependent upon forced irrigation since the plastic covers prevents rain from watering of the crops. This irrigation is usually by so-called "trickle irrigation" - so defined as any irrigation which is not of the "overhead spray" variety. The required water is pumped out of local rivers using diesel-powered pumps generally positioned close to the river bank.

This trickle irrigation is not currently controlled by the Environment Agency (EA) so that vast quantities of water can be legally pumped out of our rivers to water these industrial farming complexes. And this is in addition to any (currently controlled) overhead irrigation out of the same rivers.

The joint effect of this in terms of the noise and disruption caused by the pump, and the effect of lowering the local water table, is extremely harmful to the environment. In terms of the River Arrow, the water levels close to Brierley were (late Summers 2004,2006) extremely low despite the substantial rainfall in the Welsh Hills and local areas. What the effect will be on the local salmon (which are just returning to the river), the otters, crayfish, eels and other water-based wildlife remains to be seen. And this is in addition to the effects of the noise of the pumps on breeding mallard, merganser ducks, kingfishers, herons, etc..

Fortunately the Environment Agency has at long last recognised the need to control trickle irrigation - although the exact timing of the introduction of the new law (Water Act 2003) is still very unclear. It appears that originally it was to be implemented from (not "on") 1st. April 2006.
However, the latest from DEFRA (November 2006) is: "Implementation of the Water Act has been deliberately phased. In April the system for licensing was radically overhauled through commencement of much of Part 1 of the Act and the introduction of licensing regulations to replace those dating to the 1960s. It was necessary to implement these changes before ceasing existing exemptions from the licensing system. We are now looking at April 2008 for introducing the licensing of trickle irrigation, once we have developed the necessary secondary legislation; we will consult on proposals in 2007." In other words, even April 2008 is not certain. Still now (June 2008) it has not been implemented.
So much for the protection of our rivers.

However, S & A Davies are also talking about the creation of a 30 acre reservoir for irrigation purposes of the strawberries at Brierley. The fact that the extraction of huge quantities of marketable gravel will be a by-product has not escaped local attention ! Also, the extraction of water from any reservoirs in the Arrow Valley will need strict monitoring since - due to the gravel sub-strata - extracting from a nearby reservoir is tantamount to extracting from the river itself. Any new reservoir must be clay-lined to prevent further substantial damage to the River Arrow.

In addition, the Water Resources (EIA) Regulations 2003 require "an EIA to be carried out for water management projects for agriculture, including irrigation projects, that involve the abstraction or impoundment of water, and which the Environment Agency judges are likely to have significant environment impacts."

We must also not forget the impact on the river of the Sewerage installation at Brierley Court Farm. This installation will be discharging "treated sewerage" from over 1000 people into the River Arrow. (Summer 2006: some 1500 people). And most of this will be in the summer when the river is at its lowest due to the summer conditions, extraction for irrigating the strawberries and other, overhead, irrigation of nearby farmers fields. The Environment Agency have granted consent for sewerage discharge into the River Arrow - with conditions (including re-seeding the plant each year and measuring the discharge volumes). Do not swim or fish downstream of  Grid Ref. 49224 57162 !!
The consent for discharge into the Little Arrow has been revoked

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