Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has been a long-time campaigner for improvements to help clean up the River Loddon. The Loddon is polluted because of excess phosphate levels, and fails to meet the Good Ecological Status under the European Water Framework Directive.

The Basingstoke Sewage Treatment Works at Chineham has been a key focus for Maria, but she recently asked the Environment Agency about the two smaller Sewage Treatment Works at Sherfield-on-Loddon and Sherborne St John. There are no quality consent limits for phosphates at either of these works, and the 2009 Water Cycle Study, commissioned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said that the effluent from these two works had a significant impact on phosphate levels in the Loddon.

Maria said: “The Environment Agency has now told me that they are carrying out a full options appraisal for the Loddon catchment. They are considering recommending measures to improve the situation, including setting new phosphate limits for the two sewage treatment works at Sherfield-on-Loddon and Sherborne St John. This is great news and, if implemented, could go a long way towards improving the water quality of the Loddon. I will be keeping up the pressure to try to make sure that the limits are introduced as soon as possible.”