Campaigners gathered in Ironbridge on World Rivers Day to call for stronger protection of the River Severn from pollution; one urged a charter covering its full length. Anglers said fish numbers had fallen, with one estimating fishing was at maybe 15–20% of its former level.
Resident Helen Harvey told the BBC she had seen the river decline over 10 years, from a time when it was teeming with wildlife. Andrea Bailey of the Telford and Wrekin Green Party said people were told the water was safe for bathing but argued they could not swim there while sewage was being dumped.
Severn Trent said it had invested £2bn across the region on improvements in the past year and reduced storm-overflow spills. It also said it had spent £140m on sewage-treatment improvements in the area and remained committed to working with partners so the river could be a place everyone was proud of.
