#Every River Counts

A Nationally Important Legal Case for Rivers

Anyone who cares about healthy rivers in the UK has been asked to support a nationally important legal case against the Government and Environment Agency.

Last year, Fish Legal and the Pickering Fishery Association successfully took the Government to court, arguing that their River Basin Management Plans for a small Yorkshire river were defective and that more action was needed to meet legally binding targets by 2027.

What began as a local fight to bring fish back to the polluted waters of the Costa Beck has now become a national test case to ensure no river is left behind.

Given the widespread implications of the High Court ruling, the previous Government lodged an appeal that is due to be heard in the Court of Appeal on 14 and 15^th January 2025. Underlining just how significant the case is, the Office for Environmental Protection has been given permission by the Court of Appeal this week to intervene in the case.

#Every River Counts

The #EveryRiverCounts campaign highlights the fact that every failing waterbody needs specific actions to restore them to good health.

Penelope Gane, Head of Practice at Fish Legal, said: “This case is not just about the Costa Beck. It is about every river and lake across the country, however big or small. Like you, we want to see them all thriving with life.  We have had enough of empty Government promises and spin over substance. We are tired of excuses for inaction and endless bureaucratic drift.  If you are too, back us in our legal fight in the Court of Appeal.”

Martin Smith, Secretary of the Pickering Fishery Association, said, “We never thought our angling club would be at the centre of such a nationally significant legal case. But it’s clear now that the same reluctance to tackle pollution on our local Costa Beck is happening across the country. We’re determined to fight on for the sake of every river.”

Fish Legal’s Solicitor, Andrew Kelton, adds, “This case strikes at the heart of why our rivers remain in crisis. The Government’s approach has been too generic and non-committal. We need specific, actionable plans for each river—anything less is an admission of failure.”

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Find out more and tell us about a river that is special to you EveryRiverCountsAppeal (fishlegal.net)