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United Utilities is hiring a “river champion” this winter to patrol the banks of the River Tame and engage with the local community in Tameside in Greater Manchester.
The champion will also work with United Utilities’ teams in the area to prioritise the maintenance of assets along the river as well as cleaning up litter and debris.
If the trial is successful in Tameside, the company said it will look to roll it out the scheme to other areas in its region.
Mark Sewell, Catchment Manager from United Utilities, said: “We’re really excited to be trialling this new approach to engaging with communities near our operations. We’re making a significant investment in the area to reduce the impact our operations have on the Tame but we know there is more we can do.
“As well as working with the local community, the new river champion will be able to react quickly to reports of issues with our assets in the area. We hope this new approach will allow more people to enjoy the beauty of the River Tame and encourage them to get involved in keeping it that way.”
The champion will seek to forge links with community groups and organisations in Tameside, including the River Tame working group that has formed from the Upper Mersey catchment partnership and the Friends of the Tame Valley.
Earlier this year, United Utilities announced plans to spend £230 million improving 184 kilometres of rivers in its region as part of its Better Rivers, Better North West programme.
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