Image above from kentdowns.org.uk/dvlps/the-river-darent/
Following its recent donation[i] to a Darent River Preservation Society (DRiPS) project to explore solutions to improve the base flow of the River Darent, Sevenoaks Town Council has continued to advocate for further protections to this rare chalk stream.
Its most recent lobbying activities have been via its response to the following two consultations, which the Town Council considered to be relevant for consideration under the lens of protecting both the integrity and biodiversity of the River Darent:
The Town Council was pleased to see a Principle (GNR6) introduced within the Kent Downs Management Plan, resisting additional water abstraction particularly in the Darent and Great Stour river catchments, unless it can be demonstrated that there will not be harmful impacts upon the special character and qualities of the Kent Downs.
The Town Council has requested that Principle GNR6’s protection be expanded to also safeguard the biodiversity and ecological quality of the chalk streams themselves. It has further requested that the policy or Management Plan itself monitor the cumulative impacts of small-scale abstraction points and private boreholes, recognising that, whilst individually insignificant, they may collectively have an adverse impact on the ecological integrity, flow regime and biodiversity of the River Darent – particularly when they occur in clusters.
This Principle and the Town Council’s proposed amendments are particularly vital, given DRiPS’ statement that the main threat to the flow of the River Darent – which no longer meets the environmentally acceptable flow level for a healthy river – is overabstraction for public consumption via water companies.
It is for this reason that, in addition to requesting that Principle GNR6 also addresses the impact of over-abstraction to the quality and biodiversity of the river, it has also written separately in response to Thames Water’s consultation to request assurance that their two abstraction points close to the River Darent and directed towards London (LON_00191 and LON_00192) be stipulated for use as a last resort.
In its response to the Thames Water consultation, the Town Council has also stipulated that Thames Water must coordinate its Drought Plan with South East Water – on the grounds that both companies own abstraction points sourced via the River Darent, with South East Water’s being the one which supplies the majority of the local water supply.
Consistent throughout both of the Town Council’s representations is the message that the flow regime and irreplaceable biodiversity of the River Darent must be protected.
[i] See Press Release dated 28th April 2026 and titled “Sevenoaks Town Council funds Darent River Preservation Society project to improve river flow” https://sevenoakstown.gov.uk/sevenoaks-town-council-funds-darent-river-preservation-society-project-to-improve-river-flow/
[ii] The Kent Downs Management Plan 2026-2031 consultation has been extended to conclude on 9th August 2026 https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/kent-downs
[iii] Thames Water’s draft Drought Plan 2027 consultation concludes on 23rd July 2026 https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/regulation/drought-plan/consultation
