Fury erupts as Labour set to abandon plan to save England's rare rivers

Clean water campaigners have erupted with fury following Labour's decision to scrap a plan to save England's rare chalk streams from pollution. The Government confirmed the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack (CSRP) was "no longer being taken forward" because it "falls short" of its wider ambitions to stop pollution in rivers.

The move has triggered a backlash from campaigners, who say the chalk streams should be protected immediately. There are 224 chalk streams in England, which represent 85% of the streams in the world. Ali Morse, the Wildlife Trust's policy manager, said: "Many environmental stakeholders are going to be hugely disappointed by this news.

"We know that the communities around chalk streams are incredibly passionate about them, and we know that they're some of our most precious and our most at-risk rivers."

Chalk streams are a rare type of river which are fed by layers of porous rock beneath chalk bedrock.

They are famous for their gravely beds and their unique species, such as chalk stream salmon.

The CSRP was originally put forward by the Conservative government.

But in response to a Parliamentary petition urging ministers not to abandon the pact, the Government said: "Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water industry.

"The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Subject to consultation, we will abolish Ofwat and create a new, powerful, and integrated regulator, including a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment.

"Our focus is now on delivering this revolution across the entire water sector, ensuring chalk streams, alongside all our rivers, lakes, and seas, benefit from this era of reform.

"As such, the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack - which was announced by the previous government - falls short of these wider ambitions and is no longer being taken forward."