The Environment Agency is warning drivers of 4x4
vehicles they could be subject to legal proceedings after a group
of vehicles were seen being driven along a Shropshire
river.
Several off road vehicles were photographed on a stretch of river
in Shropshire and the incident was reported to the Environment
Agency.
Chris Bainger, fisheries technical specialist with the
Environment Agency, fears that other 4x4 drivers could be tempted
to try this kind of “off-roading” as they venture into the
countryside following the gradual easing of lockdown
restrictions.
Chris said:
Do they realise the harm they may be doing? They are directly
crushing any ecology and while some fish like trout and larger
juvenile salmon may be able to get away, small salmon won’t
escape. Plus, if there are a number of vehicles following each
other they are damaging the sensitive gravel on the riverbed.
That means fish will be less able to successfully spawn later
in the year, additionally the churned up sediment smothers the
river bed and the small creatures that live within it. Those
are an essential part of the food chain for larger aquatic
wildlife in the river. The knock on effect is longer term
stress on the localised environment.
Anyone who is found to have driven along a river could be subject
to criminal proceedings under the Wildlife and Countryside Act or
civil proceedings for trespass.
Chris added:
The Environment Agency does issue permits for work to be
carried out in rivers at certain times of the year that don’t
interfere with spawning. But, as for driving along a river,
while you can drive through a ford, no one should be driving
down a river bed. If anyone has evidence of this, it should be
reported to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800
555 111.
Note to editors
Owners of riverbanks own up to the centre point of a river.
Anyone entering a river and crossing over the centre point should
have permission from the owners of both banks to do so.
