POLLUTION levels in the river Wye could bring about a temporary ban on housebuilding near Ross-on-Wye, according to council leaders. 

The stretch of the river from Walford Brook, near Ross-on-Wye, to Bigsweir Bridge in Gloucestershire is failing to meet environmental standards due to the level of phosphates in the water according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) research. 

The high levels of phosphates in local rivers are believed to be due to run-off from farming and sewage treatment works. 

The situation in the River Lugg, which is a tributary of the Wye, is so bad Herefordshire Council decided to impose a moratorium on housebuilding across the river catchment in 2019.  

Now councillors in the Forest of Dean have asked officers to look at the situation in the Lower Wye in Gloucestershire. 

Environment, wildlife, heritage and culture cabinet member Sid Phelps said: “I mentioned this to our forward planning officer as we are developing the new local plan. 

“Our officers will need to look to see, as with north Herefordshire, if any development impacts on the river water quality in a detrimental way, then a moratorium could be imposed as well. 

“I’m interested to see if we have those impacts downstream where we are. 

“I’ve been told the River Lugg is quite a concentrated area with lots of chicken farms whereas downstream it does not. 

“I’m not saying it’s OK but there’s much more dilution and it has more tributaries coming into it by the time you get to Lydbrook, Redbrook and Brockweir.” 

Local authorities in Herefordshire and Powys along with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are working together to develop a nutrient management plan for the Lugg and the Wye. 

And Councillor Phelps said the Forest of Dean District Council has now joined the nutrient management board.

“We are concerned about the impact on our stretch of the river as well,” he said. 

“There’s no simple solution but we do need to work to find one.” 

Nutrient management board chairman Elissa Swinglehurst said she was pleased to see more authorities getting involved. 

“The reason they are now engaged, along with Monmouthshire, is the NRW failure of the Lower Wye,” she said. 

“We have to acknowledge that the river is a single entity, environmentally and ecologically speaking. 

“It’s not a Welsh bit, Herefordshire bit, Monmouthshire bit and a Forest of Dean bit.  

“Therefore, all the local authorities, these man-made constructions, will have to just get in step so that we see it as a totality and a approach it from that angle.”