Summary
On May 15, 2025, the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in Hampshire, England passed a motion to protect Hampshire’s local rivers (chalk streams) by offering them legal rights, including the right to flow freely and remain pollution-free. The district motion also mandated the council to follow up and develop a comprehensive ‘Declaration on the Rights of the River’ by spring 2026, in partnership with key stakeholders, and advocates for the consideration of river rights in future planning and development decisions.
The initiative is backed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and shaped by community voices. The trust, ahead of the vote, organised a forum to gather residents’ input on safeguarding Basingstoke’s chalk streams. The motion was introduced by Cllr Kate Tuck and seconded by Cllr David Conquest. “This rights of our rivers (chalk streams) motion is an important first step in turning this around.” “It sends a clear message: nature matters, and healthy rivers must be a priority in local planning, investment, and governance.