Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the announcement that a new, first of its kind, £3.9 million project will go towards protecting the Solent’s wildlife and habitats.
Across the Solent, nitrates have been affecting protected habitats and bird species, as well as delaying housebuilding in the Portsmouth and Southampton areas because of nitrate pollution.
The excessive growth of green algae damages rare wildlife and habitats, including the Solent’s salt marshes, seagrass beds and protected estuaries.
Caroline, along with fellow Solent MPs, met with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow and Natural England to discuss the harmful effects of nitrates on the local environment and how to tackle them.
She commented:
“I am thrilled to see that since my meeting with the Minister, real progress is being made to improve our natural environment and tackle the problem of nitrates that are affecting our habitats.
“This is a real step forward for our beautiful and rare wildlife, marshes and seagrasses which I know are incredibly important to myself and local residents.”
This new project will set up an online ‘nitrate trading’ action platform in which housing developers will buy credits to create new habitats that prevent harmful levels of nitrates from reaching wildlife areas. It will not only create more green spaces, but also ensure that stalled housing developments can restart.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
“I am thrilled to announce this funding which uses nature-based solutions to alleviate the housing pressure in the local area. Not only will this innovative scheme unlock thousands of much-needed homes for the local area, but it will provide habitat rich areas for wildlife in a true win-win.
“As the nation recovers from coronavirus, it’s more vital than ever that we build back greener, and this project will also help people connect with nature by providing more green spaces for them to enjoy.”
