News story: Water resources during hotter summer months

The Environment Agency is urging people to follow water company advice to use water wisely during these hotter summer months to help manage demand and reduce the impact on the environment.

The overall water resources situation across England is looking generally healthy. Groundwater levels throughout England are now starting to naturally decline as expected for the time of year but remain within normal levels the start of summer. Rivers, lakes and reservoirs are also broadly where they should be for this time of year. Although during dry spells it’s not unusual for some rivers and lakes in faster responding water catchments to drop quickly but they tend to recover quickly when the rain returns.

Environment Agency operational teams and hydrologists continually monitor water levels throughout the year and will determine what action is needed. During hot weather we work with water companies and other organisations to reduce the impacts of the hot weather on the environment. The action we take includes incident response, regulating water abstraction, advising businesses and farmers on water usage and monitoring for environmental impacts.

The Environment Agency also takes action to ensure water companies have made robust plans for managing water supplies, although water companies themselves would decide on proposing water restrictions.

Paul Hickey, Deputy Director and head of water resources for the Environment Agency said:

A natural reduction in river flows and groundwater levels at this time of year is to be expected and water companies plan for these summer months. The summer started with river flow and groundwaters at normal levels in most areas, including the south east following the rain in spring.

There is enough water for companies to maintain supplies if water resources are managed properly. There are no water use restrictions in place. It is always helpful, in terms of future supplies and protecting the environment, for everyone to follow advice on saving water from their water company and use water wisely. At this time of year the Environment Agency is always ready to respond to pressure on rivers caused by low flows and we continue to monitor the situation.

If the public see fish gulping for air that could be because of reduced oxygen and river flows, please report it the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

More detail on the current water situation is available on the Environment Agency’s Creating a Better Place blog:

Summer has started – what does that mean for the water situation in England?

Policy paper: Elmer flood and coastal erosion risk management scheme

Updated: Update to scheme progress 22 August 2018.

In August 2018 the Environment Agency will provide the local community with the opportunity to find out more about the preferred option to improve the sea defences at Elmer, and the chance to provide feedback to the project team.

News story: Update on seasonal closure for North West queen scallop fishery

A working group, including representatives from the fishing industry, is encouraging fishermen to voluntarily avoid targeting queen scallops in the Irish Sea (ICES area VIIa) and waters West of Scotland (ICES area VIa) until after 31 July 2018.

This follows an earlier, seasonal closure between 1 April 2018 and 30 June 2018 which the Marine Management Organisation put in place for conservation reasons.

The seasonal closure will be enacted each year until further notice and is designed to protect the stocks during the spawning period. This closure was supported by respondents to a UK-wide consultation held between 11 October 2016 and 2 January 2017 by Marine Scotland.

The working group was formed as a result of correspondence from some queen scallop fishermen and processors about the fishery. It includes fishermen, processors, fisheries administrations and scientists. The group aims to assess the current status of the fishery and, if appropriate, develop management measures and reduce long-term risk.

Following significant discussion, the working group considered that in the short term a voluntary closed season until 31 July 2018 should be introduced.

Press release: Government announces landmark Town Deal for Greater Grimsby

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million, the government announced today (5 July 2018).

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry MP and Business Minister, Lord Henley, unveiled the new Stage 1 Town Deal partnership with the Greater Grimsby Project Board while visiting the Marine Operating Centre in Grimsby and seeing first-hand some of the transformative projects the Deal will help deliver.

The Stage 1 Town Deal marks the beginning of a stronger relationship between central government and local partners to support the regeneration of Greater Grimsby.

The Deal will give Grimsby major investment to improve key roads and establish Enterprise Zones which will attract and support businesses to the area increasing further investment and employment. One example of this is Ørsted, who are building the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind at Grimsby’s Royal Dock providing a total of 350 jobs for local people.

The new Stage 1 Town Deal recognises the government’s commitment in the Industrial Strategy White Paper to work hand-in-hand with local communities which have strong local partnerships, ambition, and a commitment to regenerate their areas. It will provide:

£2 million more to the area from the government’s local growth fund¹ to support major road improvements to Moody Lane and Woad Lane that connect to key South Humber Industrial Investment Programme Enterprise Zone sites.
A further £65 million of investment already being provided by North East Lincolnshire Council (£35 million) and government (£30 million) to support the regeneration plans for Greater Grimsby
Government expertise and support including through Homes England and Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone initiative to help develop the housing and town centre with a focus on heritage-led regeneration and the development of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme sites.

These interventions will help accelerate the delivery of jobs and new homes set out in the council’s adopted local plan, which set out ambitious targets for 8,800 jobs and over 9,700 new homes by 2032.

The Greater Grimsby Project Board, under the leadership of David Ross and North East Lincolnshire Council, brought together local MPs, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and leaders from the public and private sectors to develop a vision for Greater Grimsby’s future which successfully secured the Town Deal announced today.

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry, said:

This once-in-a-generation Town Deal signals a new dawn for Greater Grimsby with millions of pounds in Government funding supporting the delivery of thousands of new jobs, significant local investment in regeneration, and nearly 10,000 new homes by 2032.

The new Town Deal delivers on Government’s promise to give communities the tools and resources they need to kick-start growth and regeneration while presenting new and exciting economic opportunities for the local community.

Business Minister, Lord Henley, said:

As part of our modern Industrial Strategy we committed to working with the local community in Grimsby to build a viable long term plan for the town. The landmark agreement we are signing today delivers on this ambition with a plan that will boost the local economy by creating high quality jobs and spreading wealth across the area.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism Michael Ellis said:

This exciting Town Deal will help Grimsby use its rich history to revitalise key areas, create local jobs and bring in new business.

Heritage can be a catalyst for growth. These projects will help regenerate the town centre and promote Grimsby as a place where people want to live, work and visit.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

For Britain to prosper our towns and cities must prosper – this is a big opportunity for Grimsby, Cleethorpes and the surrounding area to participate in the revival of the area and puts it back in the driving seat to create skilled jobs and build new homes.

Cllr Ray Oxby, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said the announcement was a hugely significant piece in the Town Deal jigsaw:

Last year, we pitched an ambitious plan to central government to show them who we are and what we can do.’’

The focus of that plan was that Greater Grimsby has the capacity to accomplish so much more than it has and that by bringing together key people with shared aspirations we can work with the community to build a prosperous and sustainable future for our town.

I’m particularly grateful for the considerable amount of work that members and officers have put in- ably supported by our local MPs and our partners on the Greater Grimsby Board- to take forward and cement this unique deal with government which has been confirmed today.

Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP, said:

The Town Deal is great news for Grimsby, and I welcome the strong partnership between business, local government and national government that is driving it forward.

Grimsby, as the gateway to the Energy Estuary, and the South Humber Bank will play an important part in the industrial strategy we are developing for the Humber and the LEP is committed to their success.

We are already investing in projects and businesses across the borough, and today I am pleased to announce that we plan to provide £2.1 million Growth Deal funding towards road and cycle improvements on Moody Lane and Woad Lane – improving access to key employment sites.

There are many opportunities ahead for Grimsby and the Humber, and I am confident that all of the partners involved will continue to build on the progress that has been made.

ABP Humber Ports Director Simon Bird said:

These are exciting times for Grimsby and the whole of North East Lincolnshire. The Council have done some tremendous work bringing key partners together in support of proposals that will transform to town. Linked to this, we are playing our part at ABP with the heritage led regeneration of the Kasbah area within the Port of Grimsby which will preserve what is special about the area whilst bringing in new jobs and business.

Matthew Wright, Managing Director for Ørsted UK, said:

Grimsby is fast becoming a world-leading hub for renewable energy and this Town Deal can only help the area continue to grow. I’m delighted to see this partnership signed as it will help unlock further investment, drive regeneration and deliver jobs.

At Ørsted we’re proud of our role within the community and we remain absolutely committed to Grimsby and the Humber. Our East Coast Hub in the Royal Dock will be the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind and with two more huge projects now under construction, we’re here for the long term.

Further information

The Government is clear that if the Project Board puts forward any new proposals to regenerate Greater Grimsby further, it is open to discussions on progressing the current Town Deal.

Today’s Stage 1 Town Deal announcement – alongside opportunities in new energy industries, stronger civic leadership, and the profile of the Great Grimsby Project Board – provides a real opportunity to shape a successful future for Greater Grimsby.

“Local Growth Fund”

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

That’s why by 2021 government will have invested over £12 billion through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

¹Subject to Humber LEP Board approval and final business case.

News story: Dstl announces appointment of new Non-Executive Members

Two new Non-Executive Members have been appointed to the Dstl Board: Professor Sarah Spurgeon OBE and Dr Brian Bowsher OBE.

Prof Spurgeon is Professor of Control Engineering and Head of Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at University College London. She is also President of the Engineering Professors’ Council and Immediate Past President of the Institute of Measurement and Control.

Dr Bowsher recently retired as the Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) where he was appointed in 2016. Before that from 2009 to 2015, he was the managing director of the National Physical Laboratory.

Prof Spurgeon took up her role on 1 July, replacing Dame Wendy Hall who left the board in January. Dr Bowsher will begin his role on 1 September, replacing Sir David Grant, who will leave the board at the end of this year.

A Non-Executive Member of Dstl is required to attend meetings of the Board and its Sub-Committees. They assist the Chair in supporting, advising and constructively challenging the Dstl Executive as part of the Board’s role in applying scrutiny, both in the development of business strategies, plans and business cases, and in assessing the business performance of Dstl.