Council champions 'pioneering' Rights of River Charter to protect 'landmark waterway'
Charter will 'enshrine importance of River Ouse for generations to come'
Co-developed with Love Our Ouse and other local partners, the Charter follows a Motion at Full Council in 2023 that agreed the development of a Declaration on the Rights of the River Ouse.
The eight new rights include a recognition that the River Ouse should have the right to be free from pollution, is essential for ensuring life, including human life, and has a right to native biodiversity.
Councillor Emily O'Brien, Cabinet Member for Nature, Climate & Food Systems at Lewes District Council, has been working with Love Our Ouse and other stakeholders to further the principles of the Rights of River Charter. She said:
"This pioneering Charter is the result of collaboration involving numerous working partners, each with a shared purpose and determination to enshrine the importance of the River Ouse for generations to come.
"It is a very proud moment for me and many others to celebrate this charter for a landmark waterway that has such resonance and influence in Lewes district, and I hope that our council's support will mark another step on the journey to change the conversation, so that one day a change in the law will mean the interests of nature are fully recognised."
Significant contributions to the development of the Charter have included a programme of consultation organised by Love our Ouse. The team ran workshops and public events along the Ouse, including a community River Mapping exercise, a Rights of Rivers Summit and session to develop the Rights of River Charter.
Matthew Bird, Director at Love Our Ouse, said:
"Love Our Ouse hopes that Lewes District Council's pioneering support of the Ouse Charter is an inspiration for all local and national communities connected to the river and we look forward to working with stakeholders across the catchment on signing up to and implementing the Charter."
Lewes District Council has worked with partners for many years to make the landscape in the Ouse catchment more resilient in a sustainable and cost-effective way, including the reduction of peak flows using natural flood management measures. Most notably, the council and Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust delivered the award-winning restoration of the Cockshut chalk stream and the creation of six hectares of wetland.
Peter King, Director of the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, said:
"We are delighted that Lewes District Council supports the principles behind the Ouse Charter, reinforcing their existing commitment to nature restoration. Congratulations must go to Love Our Ouse for directing this effort and to all those involved in the process, moving river health even higher up the local agenda can only be good for all those who live and work in this amazing landscape."
The Charter also recognises the health of the river catchment and all the ecosystems and wildlife that exist within it. To this end, Lewes District Council supports the Wilder Ouse programme, an initiative that is delivering nature-based solutions to create a Nature Recovery Network. The project is hosted by Sussex Wildlife Trust and involves a small team of experts working with communities and landowners to help people and wildlife by restoring ecological connectivity, ecosystem function and building climate resilience.
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