East Hampshire becomes latest council to back legal Rights of Rivers | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

The motion, brought forward by Cllr Ginny Boxall, commits East Hampshire District Council to embedding river rights principles into future policies and decision-making. The Council will also host a dedicated rivers workshop early next year to explore how these principles can be practically applied at a local level.

The decision recognises rivers as living ecosystems deserving of legal protection and highlights the importance of safeguarding Hampshire’s globally rare chalk streams, including the River Meon, which runs through the district and supports a wide variety of wildlife.

The movement draws on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers, which recognises fundamental rights such as the right to flow, to remain free from pollution, to support biodiversity, and to regenerate.