Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the condition of the River Rom.

The River Rom is part of the ‘Rom (Bourne Brook to Ravensbourne)’ water body. It is designated under the Water Framework Directive regulations as heavily modified and classified at Moderate Ecological Potential.

Water quality pressures are impacting on fish and invertebrates in the Rom. These pressures include sedimentation (from poor soil management and transport infrastructure) and run off from the urban environment. The heavily modified nature of the water body means that physical modifications (i.e. culverts and straightened channels) also impact these elements. The river is at risk of further deterioration due to the presence of non-native invasive species. The Environment Agency is reviewing their water resources assessment for this area but currently assess the flow in the river as supporting ‘Good’ ecological status.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November 2023 to PQ 1841 which outlines the work being carried out by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne Catchment Partnership; working with local partners to improve the water quality and biodiversity of waterbodies within Romford, including the Rom.

Nationally, the Government published the Plan for Water in April 2023 – our comprehensive strategy for managing our water environment, including our rivers. It brings together the significant steps we have already taken with a suite of new policy actions. It aims to change the way that we manage water, improve water quality, and continue to secure our water supply through increased investment, stronger regulation and enforcement.