Protest over off-road vehicles in River Meon spawning grounds

Protest at the River Meon

Anglers and conservationists gathered at the River Meon in Hampshire on 31 January to protest against off-road vehicles driving through chalk stream salmon and trout spawning grounds.

4x4s and motorbikes have been repeatedly using the riverbed near Droxford as a recreational “splash route”, churning up spawning gravels and damaging habitat. Videos posted on social media show the vehicles driving up and down the shallow stretch.

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Calls for traffic regulation order

The protesters, including Fish Legal, the Test and Itchen Association, and Activist Anglers, demanded that Hampshire County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority issue a Traffic Regulation Order to stop the activity.

Actor and environmental campaigner Jim Murray of Activist Anglers said: “Critically endangered chalk stream salmon spawn in this river, with only a tiny population left, yet vehicles are still being allowed to drive through their habitat. It is completely indefensible.”

Paul Vignaux, executive director of the Test and Itchen Association, said the county council was “putting caution and delay ahead of protecting a globally rare chalk stream”.

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Authorities criticised over delay

Ecological surveys commissioned by both authorities identified habitat degradation and reduced biodiversity in the affected stretch. Despite this, Hampshire County Council had said any action would be deferred “for an indeterminate period”.