The Environment Agency is proposing to vary and revoke two abstraction licences as part of a programme to help restore sustainable abstraction aimed at protecting the River Wensum Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The Agency is proposing to change a licence held by L.G. Brigham and Sons which allows them to abstract water for spray irrigation.

The company currently  abstracts a total of 401 cubic metres (m³) of water a day, and a total of 13,600 m³ a year, from underground strata comprising of sand and gravel at Lyng in Norfolk.

The proposal is to reduce the annual quantity on the licence from a total of 13,600 m³ a year to a total of 3,400 m³ a year and to add a time limit so that the licence expires on 31 March 2024.

The Agency is also proposing that a licence held by George J Goff Limited  to abstract a total of 860 m³ of water a day, and a total of 32,000 m³ a year, from underground strata comprising sand and gravel at North Elmham in Norfolk for spray irrigation should be fully revoked.

The Environment Agency wants to modify the existing licences as part of a programme to help restore sustainable abstraction.