Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Environment Agency is taking to enforce waterway maintenance responsibilities by riparian owners in Huntingdonshire.

In Huntingdonshire, the Environment Agency (EA) has undertaken targeted enforcement across Brampton Brook, Alconbury Brook, Ellington Brook and St Ives to encourage voluntary compliance and to inform and educate landowners on riparian responsibilities.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, the EA visited 35 properties on Brampton Brook to address vegetation overgrowth, waste, fallen trees and unpermitted structures. All necessary actions were completed by landowners, and no further action was required.

Where maintenance presents a flood‑risk concern and voluntary action is not taken, the EA can issue a formal Section 25 Enforcement Notice requiring the owner to complete specific maintenance works. Failure to comply is an offence, and the EA may undertake the work itself and recover costs from the landowner.