Community pack out hall for public meeting on Lancaster’s River Lune pollution
A public meeting, hosted by North Lancashire Green Party, was held to discuss the water quality and health of the River Lune.
Guest expert speakers Dr Ben Surridge (Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University) and Tim Pitt (Lune Rivers Trust) gave presentations, and answered the crowd’s questions about the different factors affecting pollution levels on the Lune, and what action the community can take to force improvements.
105 local people were in attendance, filling out the hall at Fathers House Elim Church, in Skerton.
Over 60 people have agreed to be involved in taking further action - amongst which involves the setting up of a 'Friends of the Lower Lune’ group, who would lead on organising 'citizen science' style community monitoring, and a campaign for an designated bathing area (which will then lead to official monitoring of bacterial pollution, which currently does not happen in any capacity on the River Lune).
The meeting was chaired by Green Councillor Sarah Punshon, who said: “It was absolutely brilliant to see such a packed hall of people who care about our local river, for all kinds of different reasons. We were all struck by the information shared, and the broad base of knowledge and experience of our locally-based expert speakers - and hopeful that if we work together we may be able to put pressure on the agencies responsible for the river to improve matters.”
Further follow up meetings are being planned for the near future – with some discussion about inviting relevant agencies and companies.
Coun Punshon added: “If anyone who couldn't attend the meeting would like to be involved, they can register their interest by emailing me and Cllr Gina Dowding at
