News

New MP 'gets his feet wet' with TRT

15 July 2010

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Guy Opperman, new conservative MP for the Hexham Constituency, visited Tyne Rivers Trust on Friday 2^nd July. He has now met all of the TRT staff and clearly did his homework well, being able to pick up on all of our streams of activity from the erosion control works to angling interests to our work with communities and volunteers through the River Watch programme. Guy, spent a full morning with the Trust employees and consultants, starting with a presentation of our work. He wasn’t afraid to ‘get his feet wet’ either, as Prof. Malcolm Newson, our director, took him to the R. Tyne at Hexham Bridge showing him the possible site for a new fish pass and discussing other critical projects and concerns of the Trust.

In the current economic climate, one of the Trust’s major concerns is of course being able to continue funding the work it strives to achieve. Guy was particularly interested in the big society / localism issues such as flood protection and managing the Tyne catchment as a whole by working with communities throughout its reach. He fully appreciated what an impact we have as a cost-effective, knowledgeable body uniquely placed to improve river habitat and to engage and educate our local communities, adding 'The Tyne Rivers Trust do brilliant work, which I have seen for myself firsthand. Their knowledge, expertise and community engagement are invaluable.'

‘We had a really good and successful meeting with our new MP who seemed acutely aware of the breadth of benefits of a healthy river running through the core of the community, ‘ said Malcolm after the visit.