The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has urged the government to protect chalk streams.

The trust joined 215 local councillors in an open letter to Angela Rayner MP and Steve Reed OBE MP, calling for stronger planning policy protections.

This cross-party plea follows reports that a promised Chalk Stream Recovery Pack has been shelved.

The letter highlights the need for specific protections for chalk streams in the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The government’s decision to abandon the recovery pack has raised concerns, with housing developments posing a growing threat to these waterways.

Councillor George Percival, Southampton City councillor for Shirley, said: "Water companies have underinvested in infrastructure and are consequently dumping thousands of hours’ worth of sewage into these precious habitats each year. There's a danger that our rivers will be stripped of the wildlife that makes them so brilliant.

"We must do everything we can to protect them. We must ensure that as our city grows, we develop it responsibly to protect our rivers. This means prioritising more green spaces and improving water efficiency across our communities."

During the National Planning Policy Framework consultation period, nearly 700 people urged the government to prioritise chalk stream protections.