The Environment Agency is inviting residents in the River Severn area to join a Citizens’ Panel on the Future of Our Rivers.
The Environment Agency is inviting residents in the River Severn area to join a Citizens’ Panel on the Future of Our Rivers.
Nearly 6,000 homes near the River Severn will receive a letter this week from the Environment Agency inviting them to join a new Citizens’ Panel to discuss water management and climate change impacts in the area and help create a positive future for the river and its tributaries.
Registrations are open until Sunday 8 October and details are included in the letter that randomly selected households have received - 20 people will be selected to take part in the panel. Participants don’t need any prior knowledge but need to be willing to commit to a total of 12 hours over several workshops.
The residents’ recommendations will help inform decision-making to tackle the growing challenge of extreme weather events in the area.
The River Severn is the longest river in Britain. With the increasing challenges of flooding and drought, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales (Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) and the River Severn Partnership are working together to gather residents’ opinions on how to manage these issues and when.
The Citizens’ Panel is looking for 20 participants across the area in England and Wales and their recommendations will be shared with all three partners to inform future decision-making.
Marc Lidderth, Place Manager and River Severn Partnership lead for the Environment Agency said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for those who live near to the River Severn and its tributaries to help inform the plans of the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales (Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru), and other local partners to meet the challenge of extreme weather events and their impact.
“We want to hear from a diverse range of local people across the catchment on their personal views about climate change, the impacts of severe weather and to share their lived experience. I look forward to hearing what the panel has to say to build recommendations for how we tackle the climate challenges we face.”
The Environment Agency has commissioned the Citizens’ Panel to consider how it can adapt flood risk management plans over the coming years to help local places become more resilient to flooding.
Once registration has closed, 20 people will be selected by lottery from those who registered their interest, to take part in the event.
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