River Lea voted among nation’s worst rivers

The River Lea near Hackney Marshes this autumn. Photo:© Tim Webb/RSPB

The River Lea has been slammed in this year’s river awards, part of the Our Rivers Campaign, after being named the fourth worst river in England and Wales.

Voters criticised the river, which runs through Hertfordshire and east London to the Thames, because of the pollution from nearby streets.

Comments from voters revealed anxiety from local inhabitants, who stress rubbish, pollution and low fish stocks as their main worries for the river.

The awards, and the overall Our Rivers campaign, brings together a variety of well-known wildlife charities. The RSPB, WWF-UK, the Angling Trust and the Salmon and Trout Association all back the campaign, which aims to celebrate the nation’s rivers and raise awareness about the threats to river wildlife.

Voting for the awards began in August, with thousands of people casting online votes to reveal their favourite rivers or those which needed urgent attention and improvement.

The state of the Lea may become a matter of increasing concern in the run-up to the Olympics given that the river flows past the main stadium of the 2012 Olympic Park.

“Parts of the River Lea are beautiful, but in Hackney a combination of neglect, rubbish and pollution have taken their toll,” said one respondent.

“This is saddening on any river, but to me it seems sadder still because the Hackney stretch of the Lea provides a window onto wildlife and the countryside in central London – something rare that should be treasured.”

Another claimed that the river is swamped with serious littering. ‘It’s just not looked after, not valued, and things that don’t belong there just get thrown in, from motorbikes to shopping trolleys,’ their response said.

“There used to be swans on it, but they have all been eaten now. It’s very dirty. It’s very sad.”

Fellow London river the Thames was voted the worst river in England and Wales, mainly on account of sewage discharge levels and pollution from surrounding streets.

Ralph Underhill, of the Our Rivers Campaign highlighted the importance of positive action to improve the state of the nation’s rivers.

“We know what pressures our rivers are facing, but the Environment Agency needs to properly investigate the sources of these problems and what can be done to put them right,’ he said.

“They need to bring together conservationists, anglers, farmers, landowners and other interested groups so that we can work in partnership to ensure there is a healthy environment for the wide range of wildlife species which rely on our rivers.”

Related story: New towpath to be unveiled on River Lea