February 21st, 2023.



A ground-breaking motion brought by the Green Party on Monday committed Lewes District Council to produce a ‘Rights of River Declaration’ within two years, which will recognise that the River Ouse has intrinsic rights such as the right to flow and the right to be free from pollution.

Green Party Councillor Matthew Bird, who is also the Lead Member for Sustainability, explained: “Our waterways face constant harm from pollution, road runoff, development and climate change, and the health and wellbeing of our local river is severely threatened. Water companies don’t act and The Environment Agency seems toothless. This motion is about valuing the river in its own right and rethinking our relationship with nature.”

The Motion had the support of the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Environmental Law Foundation.

‘Rights of Rivers’ is a growing international movement and was introduced as a concept at the Love Our Ouse River Festival in September last year, where local people from across Lewes District proposed a draft Charter for the River Ouse.


Pictured above: local campaigners turned out at county hall in support of the ‘Rights of Rivers’ motion