Councillor and Canoe Club check out state of the Rea Brook

Shrewsbury councillor Alex Wagner met with leading figures from Shrewsbury Canoe Club earlier this week, to discuss campaigning to improve the state of the Severn.

The public health impact of water companies dumping sewage into the river was brought up extensively, with those participating in aquatic sports on the Severn most negatively impacted. This includes rowers, canoers, and all those who use the Severn for sporting purposes.

After meeting at the White Horse on Wenlock Road, the group went down to the Rea Brook during bad weather to see storm overflows in full flow, pumping sewage into the stream under Haycock Way at the Rea Brook Local Nature Reserve.

Chair of Shrewsbury Canoe Club Nick Morrow said:  "Our town is born of the river, it’s vital to so many aspects of our community. It’s nice to see several active groups taking action against the sewage and farming run off. I really hope we can all move forward collectively for the betterment of our beautiful town.”

Shrewsbury councillor Alex Wagner said:  “We’ve got to hold the water companies to account and sort out our river or future generations won’t be able to take full advantage of the loop as thousands of Salopians have been doing for centuries. It is genuinely upsetting to think that our rich tradition of rowing, canoeing, and angling on the Severn may be brought to a halt if action is not taken soon.”