Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, joined in with the Environment Agency’s fish survey on the River Loddon recently, to see one of the ways in which the water quality of the river is monitored. Maria was joined by Cllr Elaine Still and Dr Alan Gibberd of Countrywatch.

The survey, using specialised electro-fishing equipment to catch the fish, took place on a stretch of the river in Old Basing.  Fisheries Officers record the length and weight of each fish and take scale samples to determine age, before the fish are returned unharmed to the water. This helps the Environment Agency to build a detailed picture of the health of the river.

The survey was explained to Maria by Julia Simpson, the Environment Agency’s Area Manager, and John Sutton, Fisheries Officer. The results of the survey were very good, with over a hundred wild brown trout recorded, as well as other fish.

Maria said: “It’s been brilliant to come out today to see the work of the experts from the Environment Agency in examining the quality of the river. The results at this stretch of the Loddon – which is upstream of the Sewage Treatment Works - have been really positive. I don’t want to see any deterioration in the water quality of the Loddon. In fact, I want to see it improve over time.”

Maria added: “It is really important that we have monitoring information like this to enable the right choices to be made in relation to decisions on future house-building levels. We have been building in Basingstoke at an incredible rate for more than ten years and, going forward, we need to be building at a truly sustainable level, so that we do not cause further harm to our natural environment.”