River business fears 'dire situation' without rain

A business owner along the River Thames has said they are weeks away from a "dire situation" unless significant rainfall arrives soon.

Greg Wheeler, owner of Cotswold Boat Hire, near Oxford, said the low water levels meant fewer boats were going out for fear of getting stuck.

He said vessels had been getting "damaged" as the water became too shallow and they had been hitting the sandbars along the river.

"It's something to be quite worried about," said Wheeler, who is concerned boats could become "marooned" between the locks.

He admitted the drought conditions were at the back of the mind of local businesses.

The Environment Agency has advised those travelling on the river to share locks and refrain from making unnecessary journeys or using drinking water points to wash their boats.

The low water levels do not just cause a problem for boaters, they also affect wildlife.

Liz Gyekye, from environmental charity Thames 21, said: "There's a lot at stake here. Our rivers are really suffering."

She said the droughts were leading to lower oxygen levels in the river that have resulted in the death of some of the fish.

Gyekye is one of many campaigners calling for a systemic change in how water is managed across the landscape.

Tessa Wardley, director of communications and advocacy at the Rivers Trust, said: "Too much winter water is being lost quickly from farmland and rivers, instead of being slowed down and stored where it is most needed.

"This doesn't just compromise our resilience in dry conditions, but adds to flood risk when heavy rains do return because water runs off the dry, compacted ground so rapidly."

She said there was an urgent need to make more space for water on land through measures such as on-farm reservoirs, healthier soils, and the restoration of river corridors and floodplains.

Wheeler described it as "a golden opportunity" to review, reform and fix longstanding issues across the entire sector.

Water minister Emma Hardy said: "Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.

"We're delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.

"We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather."

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