Shropshire views wanted on River Severn project

The multi-million pound scheme being proposed by Severn Rivers Trust will see "fish passes" at weirs in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, which will reopen the water to species which vanished after the weirs were built in the 1800s.

Species including shad and the Atlantic salmon could once again be spotted in the Severn in Shropshire when the project, which has recently been given nearly £20 million of funding, is finished in 2020.

It will allow threatened shad to access their historic spawning grounds in the upper reaches of the river.

Twaite shad and allis shad are said to have been favoured in the court of Henry III in the 13th century, and were once abundant and famed across Europe for their taste and quality.

The Bristol Channel, into which the Severn flows, has the only viable breeding population of twaite shad in the UK.

Today consultation has been launched to get public opinion on the project.

An online survey has been published with the introduction saying: "Severn Rivers Trust, in partnership with Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, are working on a project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the largest river restoration project of its kind in Europe.

"The project will re-open the mighty River Severn and its major tributary for fish and wildlife while reconnecting millions of people and local communities with the lost natural, cultural and industrial heritage of this magical river."

"It's important that our plans reflect the views of a range of community groups and individuals. We'd like to hear what you have to say."

Mike Morris, deputy director of Severn Rivers Trust, said the Shropshire stretch of the river used to see hundreds of thousands of shad until weirs were built."

By the time the project is finished in 2020 it will open the entire River Severn to all migratory fish."

"The main reason for doing this is around shad. They used to get up to Shrewsbury and the Welsh border in their hundreds of thousands.

"When the weirs were put in that all stopped. Within three years of these structures going in the shad population stopped going above Worcester.

"We should see this species getting back up to Shropshire waters. Also Atlantic salmon and eels will likely be seen in Shropshire.

"This project is focused on one species but that is the lowest common denominator. In doing that it will get every other fish species going up and down the River Severn."

The survey can be filled in by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/severnEA before January 31.