Andrew Rosindell M.P. has issued the following statement as part of his 'Love Romford' campaign, to see the revitalisation of the River Rom:
The River Rom is a core geographical feature of Romford; it connects rural Havering-atte-Bower with Collier Row, Mawneys and through the central part of Romford to the town centre itself and down through Rom Valley Way and into The Chase, where if finally converges with the River Ravensbourne and into the River Beam.
However, Havering Council and governmental agencies have ignored its potential and permitted its degeneration. Rubbish, overgrowth, and sub optimal water quality have become its defining features.
The revitalisation of the River Rom is a key tenet of the newly launched ‘Love Romford’ campaign! The mission must be to work to ensure that the River Rom’s ecological, educational, and recreational potential is fully acknowledged and exploited.
The River Rom has witnessed the history of our town unfold, but we must harness its capabilities and make our river something we can all be proud of, once again.
Over the course of the last six months, Andrew has tabled four parliamentary questions on this matter, of which can be seen below:
(a) 14th November 2023: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to improve the (a) water quality and (b) biodiversity of (i) lakes, (ii) rivers and (iii) waterways (A) nationally and (B) in Romford constituency.
In April, we published our landmark Plan for Water, to deliver clean and plentiful water for people, businesses and nature [...]
Yellowfish and Junior River Wardens Project - The Environment Agency is working with Groundwork East to deliver a combined Yellowfish and Junior River Wardens project working with schools along the River Ingrebourne and River Rom. This unique new approach will help embed and sustain local learning, education and messaging around surface water and river health. Junior River Wardens helps participants experience the valuable role they can have monitoring water quality. Yellow Fish is shown to increase public awareness of issues affecting local rivers and the wider environment and how everyone can play a part.
Mink Eradication - The RBI Catchment Partnership is working collaboratively to deliver a catchment wide approach to Mink Eradication, building on the Mink Eradication project Essex Wildlife Trust have been running across Essex. Mink are a problematic invasive species in this location who pose a threat to water voles and other native species. Thames Chase Trust have applied for funding from the Environment Agency next financial year to further build on this catchment wide approach and deliver a project to trap Mink on the River Rom.
Additionally, as a statutory consultee in the planning process, the Environment Agency comments on development proposals that could potentially impact main rivers in Romford. They make sure that where possible developments comply with the Water Framework Directive as embedded within the river basin management plan. This ensures that they secure benefits for biodiversity and river geomorphology.
Rebecca Pow M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
(b) 23rd January 2024: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the condition of the River Rom.
The River Rom is part of the ‘Rom (Bourne Brook to Ravensbourne)’ water body. It is designated under the Water Framework Directive regulations as heavily modified and classified at Moderate Ecological Potential.
Water quality pressures are impacting on fish and invertebrates in the Rom. These pressures include sedimentation (from poor soil management and transport infrastructure) and run off from the urban environment. The heavily modified nature of the water body means that physical modifications (i.e. culverts and straightened channels) also impact these elements. The river is at risk of further deterioration due to the presence of non-native invasive species. The Environment Agency is reviewing their water resources assessment for this area but currently assess the flow in the river as supporting ‘Good’ ecological status.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November 2023 to PQ 1841(opens in a new tab) which outlines the work being carried out by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne Catchment Partnership; working with local partners to improve the water quality and biodiversity of waterbodies within Romford, including the Rom.
Nationally, the Government published the Plan for Water in April 2023 – our comprehensive strategy for managing our water environment, including our rivers. It brings together the significant steps we have already taken with a suite of new policy actions. It aims to change the way that we manage water, improve water quality, and continue to secure our water supply through increased investment, stronger regulation and enforcement.
Robbie Moore M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
(c) 23rd January 2024: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has provided for the maintenance of the River Rom in each of the last three years.
The Environment Agency’s records relating to maintenance funding on main rivers are set out per financial year, which runs from 1 April – 31 March. The Environment Agency has spent the following on maintenance for the River Rom and Black’s Brook (which feeds into the Rom) in the past 3 years (to the nearest whole figure):
2021 - 2022: £93,350
2022 - 2023: £74,430
2023 - 2024: £52,550 (expected cost as financial year not yet complete).
This includes a variety of works including vegetation management, operational checks on flood defence assets, treatment of invasive non-native species, bridge inspections, and inspection and maintenance of public safety measures.
These figures will not include any expenditure on maintenance carried out as part of the Environment Agency’s incident response activities as the financial data for this is not held for each river.
Robbie Moore M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
