RESIDENTS in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and across the South West are being given a say on the state of region’s waterways.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a six-month Challenges and Choices consultation on how lakes, rivers and streams across the region can be improved for people and wildlife.

The organisation’s regional director for the South East Howard Davidson called on residents, businesses and councils to get involved in the project.

“Local communities will know the issues affecting their rivers and streams better than anyone and we want them to get involved and have their say,” he said.

“The best way to continue to protect and improve the water environment is by everyone being actively involved, which is why we want communities and our partners to share their views with us.

“We will use those views to shape the way we work in the coming years to protect our water environment for our future generations.”

Work the EA has recently carried out in the area includes working with the Cotswold Water Park Trust to create new spawning sites for brown trout and other fish at Cerney Wick Brook and the River Thames at Waterhay.

The consultation will run until December 22 and findings will be published at the end of January 2014.

To have your say visit environment-agency.gov.uk/challengesandchoices write to National Customer Contact Centre, PO Box 544, Rotherham, S60 1BY or email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk