As the NVZ appeal process approaches its conclusion with only a few decisions still awaited, it is clear that many of the 800 appeals lodged have been successful. In some cases, the decisions result in wider catchments being removed from NVZs, benefiting not only the farmer who appealed but other farmers in the same catchment. Many of these farmers may be unaware that some or all of their land is to be de-designated, and they could be planning to incur expenditure which is no longer necessary.
Defra will be publishing revised maps of NVZs and writing to affected farmers, but due to the amount of work involved this will not be until sometime in the spring. In the meantime, Defra is advising farmers who believe that their holding (or part of their holding) drains into one of the relevant water bodies to continue to comply with the NVZ rules but to defer the commitment of any significant expenditure (e.g. for the construction of slurry storage). Defra has a list of the affected water bodies on its website, and it is possible it may be updated as a result of the last few appeal decisions which are still awaited. Find a link for Defra's website to the right of this article.
At the time of writing it includes the following rivers:
Lawyers Creek Drain
Meathop Marsh Drain
South Holland Drain
River Bollin
River Crouch
River Deer (with the exception of the Old Mills Stream)
River Derwent
River Helford
River Kemp
River Leith
River Meon (with the exception of the Whitewool Stream)
River Mells
River Mersey, between the weir at the Manchester Ship Canal and the confluence point of the River Goyt.
River Nene
River Rhyne
River Severn
River Tone
River Wear (with the exception of the Valley Burn tributary)
River Welland
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