Oi! Do you have a permit for that??
PEAK ENGLAND!
Paul Powlesland, an environmental lawyer, organized a group of volunteers called the River Roding Trust to dredge garbage out of a small tributary of the River Roding in northeast London. They pulled 200 bags of trash from the waterway.
However, The Guardian reported last week that the group failed to procure a permit to clean up the environment from the UK's environment agency.
‘We consider that unpermitted works have taken place … in contravention of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016,' read the letter, seen by the Guardian. It added: ‘The site is currently under investigation for permitting and waste offences.'
Powlesland lives on a houseboat on the river and has been reporting illegal dumping and pollution in the area for years.
Nothing has happened.
‘After decades of ignoring rampant environmental crime on the Roding, the Environment Agency has finally decided to act,' he said.
‘But it's not action against Thames Water for dumping billions of litres of sewage in the Roding, or the waste criminals who have dumped thousands of tonnes of rubbish on its banks, but against the River Roding Trust for … restoring a river without a permit.'
The Environment Agency responded,
We deeply care about protecting the River Roding and will work with any partners who want to help improve the local environment.
However, governance and expert advice is necessary to make sure that work does not cause unintended harm - to flood risk, drainage or the wider environment.
Powlesland found that line of reasoning laughable.
‘We have asked them repeatedly to do this clearance work. This 10 days was part of our volunteer work over the last five years cleaning up the river, which is the EA's job,' he said.
Powlesland also posted this reply to the agency, showing trash that he cannot pick up legally ... but that the government has ignored for years:
One must wonder if the government really wants to fix environmental issues, or if it's all a ploy to have campaign issues to run on.
Powlesland faces two years in prison for cleaning up the environment without a permit.
It is unknown if he will be charged at this time.
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