BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has given her support to Basingstoke Green Week – but she has also sounded a warning about pollution in the River Loddon.

Mrs Miller said: “Green Week is a great opportunity for local organisations to come together, and to raise awareness of environmental issues.

“In Basingstoke, we have an additional environmental responsibility that can be overlooked – the River Loddon. It is a rare and precious north flowing chalk river, yet it leaves Basingstoke polluted to levels which break European law.

“The pollution problem in the Loddon is caused by all of us.

“More housing means the sewage treatment works is pumping more waste water into the river, with excessive levels of phosphates polluting the river and choking it with weeds.

“More water has to be taken out of local aquifers, reducing the flow of water in the river and concentrating pollution levels further.”

Mrs Miller added: “If this worrying level of pollution, which is right on our doorstep, is to be reduced, we have to take action.

“The Environment Agency has to stop uncontrolled pollution going into the Loddon at the smaller sewage treatment works. We need ground-breaking technology to take more phosphates out of the water, and all of us have to reduce the levels of phosphates we use in our daily lives.”

l Green Week runs from September 20 to 27. To find out what’s going on, go to facebook.com/Transition Basingstoke.