Alan Lovell acknowledged that farmers were being impacted by the effects of flooding and drought and said the EA recognised that farmers contributed to society not just through food production, but through how they used and managed their land.
But he also recognised that there would sometimes be contrasting views over the best way to spend money or the best course of action to take.
鈥淚 am not a fool,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are times when you will not like the Environment Agency. It is our role to be a good steward of the environment and also a good steward of public money.
鈥淭hat means our decisions about how we spend money, for example on managing watercourses, will not always align with what you think we should do.鈥�
Mr Lovell said the EA鈥檚 primary focus was water 鈥� flood, drought and water pollution and praised the work of the NFU and individual farmers during the recent winter floods.
鈥淲e know there鈥檚 a perception that the vast majority of our investment in flood defences goes to protect urban populations, and it鈥檚 true that our schemes must be measured against impact on people, and quite right too. But that does not mean that we do not protect rural communities.鈥�
Proactive management plan
He acknowledged NFU calls for a proactive management plan from the EA for controlling watercourses and flood defences.
While he acknowledges calls for more dredging and demaining 鈥� the transfer of river responsibility from a national level to a local level 鈥� he said neither course of action was a straightforward as it seems, but the EA would continue to consult locally and recommend these steps when and where appropriate.
鈥淲e stand beside you in recognition of your challenges, both financial and environmental, and we seek to work with you on the twin priorities of food production and environmental wellbeing.鈥�
Chair of the Environment Alan Lovell
And he said farmers and landowners could carry out appropriate maintenance but should use common sense and the EA would use common sense too.
鈥淵ou, the riparian owners, have the responsibility for looking after these rivers. We have powers as well, but you can carry out appropriate maintenance. We shall encourage that wherever we can.
鈥淚 know, of course, on major schemes you need permits, but above all use common sense. You use common sense on work, and we shall use common sense too.鈥�
He emphasised that working together was the key to achieving climate-resilient places and creating cleaner and healthier rivers.
鈥淵ou are our most important partners in delivering that endeavour. We stand beside you in recognition of your challenges, both financial and environmental, and we seek to work with you on the twin priorities of food production and environmental wellbeing.
鈥淲e really appreciate the good work that you do. We really appreciate the partnerships that we have with you and we look forward to working with you to do a whole lot more.鈥�
Meet the speakers from this session
Minette Batters
Former NFU President
Diversification includes the conversion of a 17th century tithe barn into a wedding and corporate events venue, and horse liveries. Minette co-founded the campaigning initiatives 'Ladies in Beef' and the 'Great British Beef Week'.
Campaigning on behalf of NFU members about the importance of British food and farming has been a key driver for Minette throughout her time at the NFU. In 2020 she led one of the most successful petitions ever, bringing together a coalition of chefs, including Jamie Oliver, farmers, environmentalists, consumer groups and animal welfare experts 鈥� resulting in over one million people signing the NFU food standards petition. She has also regularly engaged with different media genres including appearances on Desert Island Discs, Question Time, and Any Questions.
She has been an NFU member from grassroots through to County Chair; she served as Wiltshire鈥檚 Council delegate and also as Regional Board Chair for the South West. Minette has also been a member of NFU Governance Board and served as NFU Deputy President for four years from 2014 to 2018, before being elected as president in February 2018. Minette is also an ambassador of Farm Africa and was made a Deputy Lieutenant to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2021.
Officeholder responsibilities聽
- Trade and standards
- EU and international relations
- Taxation and fiscal policy
- Science and research and development
- Food supply chain (fair dealing, Markets and Authorities, competition, regulation)
- Food service
- AHDB
- Levelling up
- Education
Alan Lovell
Chair, Environment Agency
Since 2015 he has held Non-Executive Director and Chair positions, including NED for the last 10 weeks of Carillion, and Chair of Interserve. He is now a non-executive director and senior independent director of鈥疭IG plc.鈥�