CLA urges farmers: take up new abstraction window now

The Country Land and Business Association East is urging farmers to take advantage of the temporary window for summer abstractions to top up their reservoirs.

Following lobbying from the CLA and other agricultural groups, the Environment Agency has agreed that farmers can temporarily abstract water this summer due to the heavy rainfall.

Normally abstraction from rivers and streams to fill reservoirs can only take place for licences during the winter months.

The Agency has developed a fast track application process for those who wish to take advantage of the temporary window but, the CLA warns, they only have until 1 September to do so.

Tim Isaac, deputy director CLA East said: “This is very much a trial and for this year only.

“Farmers will still be limited to the total quantity of water they are licensed to take and will only be able to do so until 1 November.

“Nonetheless it is giving some leeway and we hope that this more flexible and helpful approach may set a precedent for the future.

The issue of abstraction licences is a thorny one. With increasingly wet summers, farmers have become frustrated by being unable to top up dry reservoirs at times when rainfall is plentiful.

Mr Isaac said: “They just have to watch the water flowing away while they desperately need it for their reservoirs.

“Crops do not simply need to water to survive. They need precise quantities at the correct times if they are to perform at their best.”

Permission, if granted, will apply for this year only and will be subject to conditions and within current licensed quantities.

In a statement the Environment Agency said any abstractors who had enough water this summer, but wanted to take summer 2012 high flows, should use the normal application process, rather than the fast-track one.

The agency said the change in the rules would not change anything else on the licence and it would waive the annual charge for summer high flow abstraction.