The Rethinking Water Citizens’ Jury was put together by the Environment Agency and a Local Advisory Group working with the Involve Foundation. The jury, which took place at the end of January 2021, debated local issues, shared ideas and questioned environmental experts on all aspects of the water environment. This project to involve communities in decisions about the future of their local river has taken place in the North East of England.
The Ouseburn Citizens’ Jury is made up of members of the public. It was tasked with examining what a ‘thoroughly modern river’ should be and with producing recommendations that will be used to guide the future of managing water for us and our partners.
The findings, in the form of recommendations written and recorded by the jurors
The final six recommendations from the Ouseburn Citizens’ Jury were:
The findings from the juries will inform our future water management plans. As a direct result of the project, Northumbrian Water are developing a bid to Ofwat’s Innovation Fund to help finance an innovative partnership led through education in the local area.
The Local Advisory Group for this jury was made up of a range of organisations from public, private and charity sector. They chose to present different aspirations and visions for the River as a way of exploring the key issues and potential future changes. The Ouseburn jury listened to evidence from a broad range of environmental experts to ensure a balanced view including:
Below is a list of the evidence in the form of presentations given as part of the citizen jury:
Managing Water in Our Environment video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNaKISTK8js
Presentation videos :
Toni Scarr - Environment Agency – introduction
Michael Donnelly – Involve - introduction
Zahra Ravenscroft – Environment Agency
Managing water in our Environment
Rob Carr – Environment Agency – photos of the Ouseburn
Professor Harriet Bulkeley, Durham University - The Ouseburn in a Changing World
Ceri Gibson, Tyne Rivers Trust - Wildlife of the River
Lesley Silvera, Groundwork - Community Activity and the River
John Littleton and Joanne Couchman, Woolsington Parish Council -Biodiversity and conservation
Mike Madine, Northumbrian Water - A Vision for the Ouseburn
James Copeland, NFU - Farming and the River
Sarah Capes, Urban Green Newcastle - Amenity Value of the Catchment
Phil Ogg, Ouseburn Trust - Heritage of the Ouseburn
Ian Brown, Local Nature Partnership -People working together to create a thoroughly modern river
Darren Varley, Newcastle City - A growing city and the challenges it brings
Professor Harriet Buckeley, Durham University - An integrated vision for the river and its role in a city
Find out more about Citizens' Juries
Should you wish to see any of the other citizen juries please visit our overview page:
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