The ‘Diffuse Water Pollution Plan - River Wye Special Area of Conservation, November 2025’ document is attached for ease of reference; this is the same version distributed to board members on 24 November 2025.

[Environment Agency]

The main points of the discussion on the ‘Diffuse Water Pollution Plan - River Wye Special Area of Conservation, November 2025’ (DWPP) included:

a.           Pat Stirling made observations about the identified issues with diffuse agricultural pollution, particularly run-off, and the suite of mitigation measures, noting that a focus on regulatory compliance would not deliver the reductions needed.  Martin Quine said that the mitigation measures would contribute towards reductions but acknowledged that there would still be a gap, highlighting the need for further research to identify additional measures and mechanisms.  In response to a question about the level of commitment to deliver the range of options presented,  Martin Quine explained that: the DWPP was an updated evidence base which identified the actions needed to reduce nutrients, albeit it did not come with funding; there was delivery against some actions already and others required more investment or work with the supply chain; significant resources were already being deployed in this area; and the DWPP provided the evidence for the direction of travel.

b.           Pat Stirling requested that best efforts be made to produce a forecast of what would be achieved, based on the actions identified in the document, with specified timeframes.  Andrew McRobb supported this request, stating that the board needed to understand what was going to happen and by when, along with measurable impacts such as reductions in kilograms.  Councillor Maby endorsed this suggestion; comments were also made about the need to combine the English and Welsh evidence, and the need to identify and highlight resource issues.  At the discretion of the Chairperson, James Marsden reminded the board of the Environment Improvement Plan targets and said that it should be feasible to plot a trajectory to identify the extent of the gap; a comment was also made about the reductions to the budgets of environmental regulators over the past decade.

c.           Councillor Charlton said that it was clear from the DWPP and the Evidence Base for Wales that no single agency or authority could achieve the priorities on its own but there was currently a lack of a clear strategy for collaboration, to assign responsibilities, or to monitor progress; adding that, despite ongoing uncertainties, action was necessary and on a cross-border basis.

d.           Louise Bodnar questioned the extent to which the board was able to input into the strategic priorities and said that existing research pulled together by WWF into the effectiveness of different mechanisms to reduce diffuse pollution should be utilised.  Claire Minett noted that there was an item on the Nutrient Management Plan later in the agenda and outlined how Natural England used research and evidence to target advice on farming practices.

e.           Louise Bodnar commented on the effectiveness of buffers in reducing diffuse pollution into rivers, streams, and ditches but noted that this was not identified as a strategic priority.  Claire Minett commented on voluntary initiatives and need for collaboration across sectors.

f.             Merry Albright considered that: the DWPP did not say what actions were required and by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31

To receive an update on the DWPP; the Environment Agency has indicated that it will not be possible to provide a copy of the DWPP for this meeting.

[Martin Quine, Environment Agency]

Further to minute 6 of the 16 July 2025 meeting, Diffuse Water Pollution Plan progress report (link), Martin Quine advised that the Diffuse Water Pollution Plan (DWPP) was nearing finalisation.  It was reported that the DWPP had been delayed due to a peer review process and the need to share it with the claimant in a judicial review; no further details of the implications of the latter could be provided in the meeting.  It was anticipated that the DWPP would be available by the time that the contractor was appointed for the catchment management plan.  The board was advised that there would not be a public consultation, but the DWPP would be publicly available.  It was suggested that a separate session to explore the contents of the DWPP could be arranged.

With comments made by board members about the background to the DWPP, assurance was sought about the timeframe; the potential to write to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding was briefly explored.  Martin Quine expected that the DWPP could be shared in the next few weeks. 

The Chairperson noted the position of the Environment Agency but commented on the potential benefits of sharing draft documents openly and collaboratively with key stakeholders.