Oxfordshire MP calls for Thames Water to ‘get a grip’ on sewage dumping
Research shows sewage dumping is putting Brits off swimming
An Oxfordshire MP is urging Thames Water to ‘get a grip’ on sewage dumping, as research shows its putting Brits off swimming.
A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats finds nearly half of Brits (44%) would never swim in the sea during the summer.
Olly Glover, Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage says, “this is a real shame for people wanting to holiday domestically; save money and reduce carbon emissions if many people are now too fearful”.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Mr Glover said: “They need to get a grip. There needs to be much more investment in our wastewater treatment systems so that sewage dumping can be prevented, particularly as people in Oxfordshire and beyond have been subject to enormous water bill increases by Thames Water.”
In Oxfordshire, there are two designated areas with ‘bathing water’ status at Port Meadow and Wallingford Beach.
Although, the Environment Agency regularly warns people not to swim at these locations because of dangerous levels of pollution.
In a joint statement, Oxfordshire five Liberal Democrat MPs also say, “Labour needs to get a grip on this crisis”.
Olly Glover, Charlie Maynard, Layla Moran, Calum Miller and Freddie van Mierlo said:
“We should all be able to enjoy time swimming or taking part in water-based sports while the weather is warm, but because of uncontrolled sewage dumping people missing out.
“We are saddened but not surprised by these findings. Serially polluting water companies have been let off the hook for too long. The Government must act more quickly and with greater ambition if they are to reverse the damage caused by the former Conservative government’s negligence.
“Labour needs to get a grip on this crisis. They can start by getting a new water regulator set up as soon as possible, with the powers it needs to truly hold water companies accountable. Tougher fines, levied swiftly, are needed to hold sewage dumpers criminally responsible for their mistreatment of our seas and rivers.”
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We know how much people enjoy and appreciate rivers, which is why over the next five years we will deliver a record amount of investment to address our ageing infrastructure and meet the demands that come with population growth and climate change.
“We are committed to seeing waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone.”
They add: “This is an issue that will take many years and significant investment to resolve and is at the heart of our Storm Overflow Action Plan.
“Transparency is at the heart of what we do, and we were the first water company to publish a real time data map on our website showing all storm overflows, before it became a legal requirement to do so.”
A Defra spokesperson said: “The government has put down the building blocks to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
“We are rebuilding the water network through one of the largest infrastructure projects in this country’s history with a record £104 billion investment to upgrade crumbling pipes and halve sewage spills by 2030.
“We will also create a new, powerful regulator responsible for the entire water sector – abolishing Ofwat and bringing together the water functions from four different regulators into one.”