friends of bradford’s becks

Friends of Bradford’s Becks Summary of FUTURE PROJECTS workshop on Friday 1st Feb 2019

MechanicsInstituteLibrary,Kirkgate,Bradford

Present:Elisabeth,Kevin,Graham,Rob,Carlton,DavidBailes,Nick,Colin,JonnyGrey,SimonW,EdN,Geoff,AndrewM,DavidP,RachelF,Robin,PhilMarken,JohnB,MikeP,Barney,JohnR,Matt,SydS

Apologies:SteveS-B,Eddie,Rose,Rachel,Irene,James,Wendy

Structure of meeting

• 10:00-10:30–FOBBtimeline(seesnapshotofslidesused)• 10:30,Breakoutgroups

o Whatarethepossibilitieso Define1-3projectso Howdowedothem

• 11:30ish,Plenarysessiono Eachgrouptoreportbacko Aplanemerges…

• 12:30Gohomeexhausted

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Breakout groups

Thefourgroupseachdiscussedanareaofpossibleactivitiesasshown.Lotsofflipchartpaperwascoveredinthediscussions,and

possibleprojectsputforwardtotheplenarysession.ThenotesandprojectideasaresummarisedintheAppendix.

Projects currently underway

1. Signposting the footpaths

WithfinancefromtheCo-op,weareerecting~20footpathsigns,mostlyinwesternpartofthecatchment,tohelppeoplefindtheBecks.GrahamGisleading,workingwiththeCouncilwhowillactuallydotheinstallations.

2. Renaturalising from the River Aire to Briggate

TheprojectwhichwehavebeenproposingforyearsisnowformallyunderwaytoimprovetheBeckanditsbanks,fundedbyEAandCBMDC,withthemainpracticalworktobecarriedoutbyWildTroutTrust.Itmaytakeseveralyears!

WearealsoinvolvedindiscussionsabouttheopportunitiesfortheBeckofthepossibleCanalRdimprovementscheme.

3. Yorkshire Water study of drainage issues

YWwillbecarryingoutan:

‘Investigation to understand the causes of ecological failures related to drainage across Bradford Beck catchment, working in partnership with local interest groups, the EA and the local authority as appropriate. Specifically the investigation should identify mis-connections, sources of pollution to surface water systems and non-compliance with discharge permit conditions. The investigation will need to improve understanding of how these issues affect macrophytes, invertebrates and fish, and develop a strategy for resolving the ecological issues. The extent of this investigation is the Bradford Beck and its tributaries to its confluence with the River Aire.’

ThisarisesfromFOBB’sevidenceofpollutionissuesintheBeck,andwewillbeinvolved.

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4. Miss Connection

MissConnection(https://vimeo.com/227630579)iscontinuingtovisitschoolstoexplainaboutthepollutionthatarisesfrommis-connecteddrainsandsewers.Shecanbecontactedviairenelofthousewriter@gmail.com.

5. Invasive species removal

AgroupledbyNickandKamranhasbeensurveyingandtreatingJapaneseKnotweedandwillpresumablycontinueactivitiesthisyear.

Possible future projects

Thefollowingpossibleprojectsareadistillationoftheworkshopoutcomes,withafewotherideasfromearlierdiscussionsthrownin.

Project Whatisit?Why? Whatisneeded? Finance?

Guidedwalks. Takemembersofthepublic(oranygroup)ononeofthepre-plannedwalksaroundandacrossthebeautifulcountrysideandbecksofBradford.

RaisesawarenessofthebecksandFOBB.

Acoordinatortoa)fixdatesandrecruitwalkleaders,b)spreadthewordtowalkingandothergroupsviaemailandsocialmedia.

None.

Litterpicking. Aseriesofmornings’litterpickinginthebecks(ifsafe)andonthebanks,followedbyahotdrinkandbiscuits.MarchandAprilarebestmonths,whenplantsarelow.

ImprovesthebecksandraisesawarenessofFOBB.

Acoordinatortoa)fixdates,b)tospreadthewordviaemailandsocialmedia,c)contactCouncilforbinbagsandtocollectwaste.

None.

StudentFOBB. FormaFOBBgroupinBradfordUniversityand/orBradfordCollege.Approachexistingenvironmentalgroupsand/orUnion.

Bringsmorevolunteers,raisesawarenessofwaterissues.

Aliaisonpersontomaketheinitialcontactsandkeepawatchingbriefinfuture.

None.

Informationboards. Createandinstallinformationboardsatselectedlocationswithsomehistory,ecologyandpollutionpreventionadvice!

RaisesawarenessofthebecksandFOBB.

Asmallgrouptoresearchtopics,decideoncontent,findandworkwithadesignertocreateboards.

Wehave£3500fromCo-opthatneedsspendingthisyear!

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SedimentcontrolonNewBuilds.

Workwithlocalconstruction/developmentcompanies(andEAandCouncil)toeducateonbestpracticetopreventsiltenteringtheBecksanddamagingwildlife.Likelytodevelopintoatrainingprogrammeandpreparationofaguidancedocument.

Improvesthebecks.

Aprojectleadertomakeinitialcontact,testthewillingnessofcompaniestoengage,andputtogetheraprojectplantobidforfunding.

Quitealargeproject,maybe20companiestoengagewithovertime.

Probablyneedsfundingforaprojectofficertosetupanddelivervisitsandtraining.

Riparianguardians. Riparianlandownersarethosewhoownthebanks,theyalsoownthebeduptothebeckcentreline.Workwiththemtodevelopaninteresta)inmonitoringthewaterqualityandreportingissues,b)preventingpollutionandlitterfromtheirownsites,c)reducingrunoff.AwardFOBBcertificates.

Improvesthebecks,bringsmorevolunteers,raisesawarenessofwaterissues.

Aprojectleadertomakeinitialcontact,testthewillingnessofcompaniestoengage.Createasmallgroupofvolunteerstovisitripariansitesandadvise.

Canprobablybedonewithvolunteers.

CouldberolledupwithSedimentControlsproject,ordonewithvolunteers.Smallfundingforleaflets,signs.

Existingwetlands. RevamptheexistingwetlandsatPittyBeckandChellowDenetobemoreecologicallyfunctionalandtohavesomefloodmanagementbenefits.CreatealocalFriendsgroupforeach.Seeiftheycanbeusedforeducationwithlocalschools.

Improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandwaterissues,increasesvolunteerpool.

Aprojectleadertodiscussthepossibilitieswithexperts(FOBB,EA,WildTroutTrust,Council)andinterestedpartiessuchaslocalresidents,Councilandschools.

Developaplan.

Noneforinitialplanning.Mayrequirefundstocarryout.

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NaturalFloodManagementforPittyBeck.

DevelopaplanforNFMinthePittyBeckcatchment,toreducefloodingriskdownstreamandimprovewaterquality.Mayinvolve:treeplanting,fencingoffhorsepaddocksfrombeck,slowingrunoffwithlittledams,rainplantersandsoakawaysforhouses.

ReducesfloodriskinBradfordandLeeds,improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandwaterissues,maybringinvolunteers.

Aprojectleadertodiscussthepossibilitieswithexperts(ART,EA,LeedsFloodAlleviationScheme,Council)andinterestedpartiessuchaslocalresidentsandlandowners(Councilownsalot).

Developaplan.

Noneforinitialplanning.Willrequirefundstocarryout.

Plastics. Aneducationalcampaigntopreventwetwipesandothersanitarymaterialsgettingintothebecks.Focusonstoppingpeopleflushingstuffdowntoilet.(Couldalsodealwithmis-connectionsandproblemsoffatsandoildisposal.)CarryoutincooperationwithYorkshireWaterwhichhasacampaignunderway(Wipesaur).

Reducesplasticpollutionbyreducingsewerblockagesandspillagesintobecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandplasticpollution.

AprojectleadertoliaisewithYWanddevelopaplan.

Noneforinitialplanning.Willrequirefundstocarryout–perhapsYWwillsupport.

Pollutionmonitoring. ACitizenScienceapproachtofindingmisconnectionsandirregularCSOdischarges.Designing,making,installingandtestinganewlow-costsensorwhichalertsvolunteerstocheckthebecksforpollution.

Reducespollution,improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBB.

AprojectleadertoliaisewithYWanddevelopaplan–currentlyunderway.

ExpectingYWfunds.

APPENDIX: Summary of notes from discussion groups

Pollution - notes

Education:

• aboutCSOs,Plastics(wipes),Misconnections

• Forschools,authorities,riparianownersandpublic

Monitoring:

• Technologicalmethods(widget)

• Observation(bypeople)

Plastics:

• Wetwipesandothersanitarywaste–YWS

• Generallitter

Riparianowners:

• Cangiveaccesstothebeck-side

• Co-operationwouldbeuseful

• Canbepollution/littersources

• Couldbeobservers

Pollution – possible new projects

1. Education:- Newbuilds(ieconstructioncompanies)- Schools- (riparianowners)- UsingMissConnection,YWSleaflets

2. Monitoring:- Technologydevelopment- Engagelocals- Regularmonitoringandobservations- Riparianownersandcontacts- YWSsondestogoin

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Awareness raising – notes

Whoshouldbeaware?

• Professionalcontacts(EA,CBNDC,YWS,etc)?Project-driven?Massmarketing?

• Realchangescomethroughprofessionalcontacts• ExistenceandprofileofFOBBgivesthegroupinfluence,soneedmembers

• Activitiesraisemembers/volunteers

Awarenessofwhat?

• Becks?FOBB?Water?

• JointlyofBecksandFOBB

Scaleofeducationtomakeanimpact:

• Forconstructioncompanies,maybe20companies.NeedtogetinatRegionalDirectorlevel(orhigher),theneventsforsitemanagersandsubcontractors.

• Fordomesticinfluenceinsay10locations,mightneed10eventsperlocationswith10-50peopleineach,so100events.

• Allarelargeundertakings.

Awareness raising – possible new projects

3. StudentbranchofFOBB:- Tryandcreateastudentgroup,Universityand/orCollege,whichmaybeself-

sustaining- Seeifexistingenvironmentalgroups- ContactStudentUnion- HavestallatFreshersFairs

4. Constructionindustryeducation:- Aimtoreducesedimentrunoff- Demonstrategoodpractice- Writetocompaniesdirect- Workthroughindustryassociationssuchas“ConsiderateConstruction”

5. Targetwalkinggroupswithoffersofguidedwalks

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- Needsacoordinatortosetupdatesandleaders- Alsoa‘marketing’persontospreadtheword- LinkinwithDNAire- AroutetoBMEengagement?

Smaller improvements – notes

Areasdiscussed:

• Invasivespeciesremoval(knotweedetc)• Reviewingplanningapplications

• Buildingfieldbunds

• Mappingpotentialdaylightingopportunities

• Cataloguinglandowners• Litterpicking

• Walksandfootpathimprovements

• Treeplanting

• Sustainableurbandrainage,egrainwaterplantersforhouses

Smaller improvements – possible new projects

6. Walksandfootpathimprovementstofollowonfromthesignpostingproject

7. Litterpicking:- ChellowDene- CanalRd- ShayLane- InvolveKBT,SAS,FoE,Woodcraft,Scouts

8. Treeplanting- Tridenthasvolunteers- LinktoBetterPlaceproject,egBowlingBeck

Renaturalisation – notes

ForNFM,topographysaysweshouldstartattopofcatchment

Landownership–doweknowiffragmentedorcoherent?Islandfarmerordeveloperowned?

Reservoirscanbeusedadaptively

LeedsFloodAlleviationScheme(FAS)isagoodlink

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ExistingNFMopportunitiesmapandfloodriskmapsareuseful

Aimforademoproject

Renaturalisation – possible new projects

9. PittyBeck- Revampexistingwetland

o Useasbasisforeducationandengagement?- DevelopanNFMschemeforcatchment

o Lotsofhorsedominatedpasturesalongbecko Treeplantingo AlotofCBMDCownedland

10. ChellowDene- Considerrevampofexistingwetland

o Whatcouldbeitsfunction?

11. CanalRoad- Continuetoengage- Stayalerttoplansforroadimprovementswhichmayhavesignificantfundingand

consequencesfortheBeck

12. Clayton/PittyBeckconfluence:- Keepwatchingbrief- Developermaycomebackwithnewproposal- OpportunityforNFMandimprovedbiodiversity

friends of bradford’s becks

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