CALNE Cllr Robert MacNaughton has successfully gained support for a motion that calls for the protection of our rivers, at a full council meeting on Tuesday 15th October.

Liberal Democrat Cllr MacNaughton, founder and Trustee of Friends of the River Marden, submitted the motion with Conservative Cllr Ashley O’Neill. The key request being that the council meets with executives of Wessex Water, Thames Water and Southern Water to call upon them to make the 'required investment' to protect our rivers with upgrades to sewage systems throughout Wiltshire as a priority.

The motion also calls upon these companies to engage with the government and Ofwat to discuss 'how the burden of the necessary investment in Wiltshire is addressed'.

At the meeting, Cllr MacNaughton told the council about his long-standing relationship with nature adding that he spent 10 years in a Druid Grove. He went on to share his experiences of the river blessings he has organised at the River Marden with the Bishop of Ramsbury and shamanic practitioners.

He told those present: “They have sentience in the same way your plants at home have sentience, when you water them and talk to them, they do respond to your presence, your cats as well, your dogs as well.”

Wiltshire Council’s leader Richard Clewer supported the motion saying:  "I think this motion is a really good idea, it's us saying to the water companies in our area, ok step up and actually meet your legislative responsibilities under law and tell us how you are going to do it".
 

Leader of Wiltshire’s Liberal Democrats Ian Thorn also supported the motion adding: "I am very happy to support the motion and I thank those who have been involved, including Robert, in drafting the motion. Robert is a force for good in many many areas in particular in relation to rivers and just encouraging people to embrace rivers whether they feel they are sentient or not."

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Vigar said: “I think we need to get a proper understanding of what is the fair and right level for the billpayers to pay and how we can actually get the investment together and if Wiltshire can be the place where we have that dialogue, and we can actually set an example to the rest of the nation, then that’s a great thing to do and I support the motion fully.”

Cllr MacNaughton told Calne News: "I proposed a motion to Wiltshire Council saying that we are disappointed that the water companies are still pouring sewage into Wiltshire’s rivers. To be honest, my views are much stronger than that but I was forcibly told I shouldn’t swear during the debate.

"The motion was seconded by Cllr Ashley O’Neill who also lives in Calne, and he brought the support of his fellow Tories during the debate.
 
"Practically the motion also asked that Wiltshire Council engage with the water companies on their future sewage upgrading works, and also asked how they will be funded.
 
"I know this is only a small step in a long battle, but there is no doubting how strongly so many of us feel about the water companies dumping their poo in our rivers."
 

The motion was unanimously approved.

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The Motion was made up of the following three points: 1) Council is disappointed by the water industry’s failure to prevent sewage being discharged into Wiltshire's Rivers. We call on water companies operating in Wiltshire; Wessex Water, Thames Water, and Southern Water to make the required investment to protect our Rivers as a priority. 2) Council requests a meeting with executives of Wessex Water, Thames Water and Southern Water to receive greater clarity on future investment in the overdue upgrades to our sewage systems in Wiltshire. 3) Council calls on Wessex Water, Thames Water and Southern Water to join the Council in engaging with the government and Oftwat to discuss how the burden of the necessary investment in Wiltshire is addressed.