Save Lea Marshes joined six local groups to march together at the national March for Clean Water in central London on 3 November.
Organisations who have been locally advocating for the River Lea joined forces for the first time to call for urgent government action to clean up the polluted river.
They united with thousands of people, representing hundreds of organisations across the country, in the largest ever demonstration for water in the UK’s history. Participants all wore blue to form a symbolic ‘river’ which wound its way from Embankment to Parliament Square. Marchers demanded emergency measures to clean up the UK’s rivers and seas.
Caroline Day from Save Lea Marshes said, “We have been campaigning alongside other organisations to clean up our heavily polluted local river – which runs through the marshes – since 2013. However, we have seen the pollution get steadily worse over the years, witnessing first hand some devastating pollution incidents which have caused mass fish deaths and lasting environmental damage to our precious river. Since 2021, we’ve regularly tested water samples from the Old River Lea which runs through Hackney Marshes. We’ve seen chemical markers of pollution from run-off and sewage at consistently very high levels. Put simply, immediate action is needed to end this pollution, and it was heartening to see so many people out united in calling for the necessary action from the authorities on Sunday 3 November.”
Beth Summers from Leaside, a community hub for water-sports, adventure and nature, said “Leaside supports 3500+ people each year paddle, bike and boat on the River Lea through our youth club, schools programme, community groups, adult paddlers and local residents. Our community is passionate about the River Lea, it is a precious resource that brings joy, adventure, calm and transformative life experiences. Yet each year we see water quality getting worse, plastic pollution increasing and biodiversity struggling. Whilst we do all we can to monitor water quality and the majority of people have a fantastic time, some are getting ill from contact with the water. It’s not good enough. Young people and our communities should be able to explore and enjoy our waterways without the fear of falling ill. Leaside is passionate about facilitating community led action and collaboration so together we can create a healthy, vibrant and thriving River Lea.”
Colin Legge, a boater on the River Lea said, “It was great to witness a genuinely co-operative spirit with Leaside Trust, Lea boaters and the National Bargee Traveller Association (NBTA) – that’s boaters, canoeists, kayakers, the local community, both younger and older – all collaborating to ensure healthy waterways for future generations.”
Theo Thomas, founder of London Waterkeeper, an independent charity campaigning for clean rivers in London explains why the current system of regulation and enforcement is failing to curb pollution and why the march was so important, “We have all the laws we need in place, the result of campaigns stretching back decades but regulators have not been using them to their full strength. Light-touch enforcement just lets polluters get away with damaging nature. This show of solidarity for clean water means the pressure on Government, water companies and agricultural polluters will only increase.”
Jess Dolan, director of environmental charity ecoACTIVE, said: “The River Lea is one of the most polluted in the UK. It is contaminated with sewage, wastewater, chemicals, plastic and oil. Levels of faecal e-coli bacteria can exceed international standards more than 40 times. We can only imagine the harm this is causing to wildlife. We know that Walthamstow Marshes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, has been in unfavourable and declining condition for years. We cannot let this disregard for the health of the Lea any longer. Action to clean the river and restore nature is needed now.”
Peter Mudge, one of the directors of East London Waterworks Park, who joined the march said, “Water is the most important element in our plans for East London Waterworks Park. We believe that we can provide clean water for wild swimming solely using natural processes. But the River Lea flows along the boundary of our site, and it has been suffering from severe pollution for many years. We envision a better future where people and wildlife will be able to enjoy the benefit of clean water throughout the lower Lea Valley and were delighted to join other local groups calling for an end to pollution of our precious waterways on 3 November.”
With even more dire news about the plight of our rivers emerging since the march, including the perilous state of Thames Water, we pledge to continue and step up our campaign for clean water for all.