The Ashridge Stream

The Ashridge Stream is a tributary of the Emm Brook.It flows broadly east to west from the DowlesGreen area of Wokingham through Ashridge Meadows a Wokingham Borough Council Country Park at Eldridge Park , past the Metro Centre on Toutley Road to its confluence with the Emm Brook at Toutley Bridge in Old Forest Road south east of junction 10 of the M4/A329M.

Reporting problems on the Emm Brook

To report an Incident , such as pollution contact the Environment Agency hotline on . : 0800 807060 (Freephone, 24 hour service)

For general enquiries Telephone: 03708 506 506 (Mon-Fri, 8am - 6pm)

or you can email on : enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk (do not use for reporting environmental incidents)

Emm Brook River levels now on line

The Environment Agency Website now has a daily update on river levels of the Emm near Tesco in Area 2.

Maintenance of the Emm Brook

Who is responsible for river maintenance ?

Landowners have ultimate responsibility for the maintenance of the watercourses flowing through, or adjacent to their landholding. However,the Environment Agency (EA) have discretionary powers under the Water Resources Act 1991 to undertake maintenance work on designated main rivers but no duty to maintain them.

The Agency and Wokingham Borough Council also have powers of enforcement to ensure that riparian landowners keep any watercourses flowing through their land, clear of obstructions.

The Emm Brook is designated "Main River" from Chapel Green (to the rear of Tesco's on the Finchampstead Rd in Wokingham) to its confluence with the River Loddon (to the rear of Lavells Lake NR, Hurst). The EA have an annual maintenance programme in place on the Emm Brook. This programme of work is prioritised by assessing flood risk throughout the catchment and involves removing vegetation and debris as well as inspecting river banks and structures.

The annual maintenance programme for the Emm Brook can be viewed here The Emm Brook is covered in Routine Maintenance Activity spreadsheet.