02/06/2026
‼️💧A campaign to compel Wessex Water to clean up their act 💦‼️
Yesterday, FoBB volunteers, Jackie, Claire and Steve, met with local councillors, Katja Hornchen and Andrew Varney, to discuss the high level of untreated sewage in Brislington Brook. We were joined by Tim Kent, a councillor for Whitchurch Park ward, who has recently expressed concern about the water quality of Brislington Brook: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/wessex-water-denies-untreated-sewage-10852497
A little bit of background information. In 2025, Bristol Avon River Trust (BART) reported that Brislington Brook is one of the most polluted streams in Bristol. It showed 'very low biodiversity and signs of severe water quality pressures, including high levels of pollution and siltation'. The decline of aquatic macroinvertebrates impacts on the biodiversity of St Anne's Wood and Nightingale Valley as a whole.
See the table in pics which highlights the worst areas for regular sewage releases in south Bristol: 'Untreated Sewage Release' (ArcGIS online, Feb 2026).
Two of the worst are in Brislington Brook along Airport Road and also the corner with Wells Road. The Environment Agency and OFWAT are aware of these levels of discharge and have given Wessex Water until 2045 to make changes. That's right! Almost 20 years to continue releasing raw sewage into poor old Brislington Brook. In fact, most of the sites on this table are along Brislington Brook. But the worst is along Airport Road. From there, the sewage passes through Nightingale Valley and St Anne’s Wood into the River Avon.
We discussed the global ‘Rights of Nature’ movement, which is granting rivers legal personhood, shifting their status from property to living entities. This allows ecosystems to be legally represented in court to defend their right to exist, flow, and be free from pollution. The River Ouse, which runs through West and East Sussex, is the first river in the UK to be formerly recognised as a living entity.
We were advised to start a petition to have the River Avon and Brislington Brook, one of its tributaries, recognised as a living entity with legal personhood. We were assured that we had full backing from Bristol South councillors and that Katja, Andrew and Tim would spread the word amongst their colleagues. Once the petition has 3,000 signatories it will be taken to Full Council.
Further research has revealed that the Conham Bathing Group has already started a campaign. Moreover, an individual in BS14 has started a petition in her area. It is clear that we need a joined-up approach. FoBB will be reaching out to groups with a similar aim. Please get in touch if you are a member of such a group. We are stronger together than on our own. Watch this space!
