Concerns for the future of Maldon's estuary are to be raised by MP John Whittingdale at a meeting with the Environment Agency.

He has called the meeting on August 20 after hearing residents' fears about siltation in the River Blackwater in the light of Essex and Suffolk Water's application to discharge water into the River Chelmer and a variation to their licence to extract it.

"The estuary is the heart of Maldon and the idea that it should be lost would tear the heart out of the town," said Mr Whittingdale.

He added: "This is a very serious matter for the future of Maldon. I accept Essex and Suffolk Water have a problem in terms of needing to find vital sources of water to meet demand but it may be possible to find a way around this so they are able to extract water and take other measures so it doesn't have the effect of silting up the port.

"I will be seeking assurances from the Environment Agency that they will take full account of the concerns expressed by users of the estuary and people of Maldon."

Martin Lunn, scientific and environmental services manager of Essex and Suffolk Water said the company is actively seeking ways of mitigating any possible increase in siltation and in early August it has called in UK renowned siltation specialists, HR Walling-ford from Oxford to carry out chain dredging in mid channel of the river to gain scientific proof of what happens.

This week Maldon town councillors backed a letter from Cllr Eric Bannister to the Environment Agency suggesting a way to solve siltation problems.

Cllr Bannister, a life-long sailor believes the problem can be overcome by 'Mother Nature'.

He said: "My submission is the reason for the silting is the erosion of saltings on the north side of the river where the back channel is.

"Some years ago the sea wall on the Heybridge side of the river from Mill Beach to Beeleigh was raised by the Rivers Authority by a metre or so. A sea wall groyne to deflect the tidal current into the upper reaches will prevent the serious problem of silting and prevent the erosion of the saltings in the back channel which is affecting wildlife."

Spokesman for the Environment Agency, Chris Dodson said: "We welcome Mr Bannister's letter and his proposal put forward. We cannot go ahead without modelling and a technical report and we are talking to the district council to see what can be done."

He added a decision has yet to be made on the water company's application and how soon it will be depends on whether the Secretary of State for the Environment calls it in for a public inquiry.

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