A decade ago, around 80% of Britain’s bathing waters were rated excellent; over the last 10 years, that has fallen by 20% to around 60%. And of course, the downside is not limited to reduced access to bathing: the environmental consequences of this pollution are severe.
The Lords agreed an amendment to the Environment Bill which would place a duty on water companies and the government take all reasonable steps to ensure untreated sewage is not discharged from storm overflows and require that they progressively reduce the harm caused by these discharges.
Last week, 265 Conservative MPs voted to overturn the amendment, which was duly rejected. There are however some glimmers of good news:
- 70 Conservative MPs did not vote at all and 22 had the courage to vote against the government and in favour of the amendment
- The amendment was defeated by 265 votes to 202 — a majority of only 63: if the abstainers had voted against, the amendment would have stood
- If the Lords stick to their guns, MPs will have a second chance to vote on the amendment this Wednesday, 27 October.
We therefore still have time to get a message to Conservative MPs before Wednesday, making our feelings clear. Here is an easy way to write to them.
7 comments so far
Why ARE water companies discharging raw sewage into rivers, oceans and waterways? Why can’t we access water purification chemicals?
We must stop for-profit companies dumping raw sewage into our rivers!
Please stop tipping your waste into our seas and rivers !
This is a total disgrace in modern Britain. We are going backwards
How can we clean up our only planet with this going on. It’s a disgrace, there must be another way… I can’t comprehend that this is still going on.
For the sake of future generations get your act together and stop dumping your shit into the seas. Clean up your act.
Why oh why have we returned to dumping raw sewage into the rivers and seas. Didnt we learn anything from being part of the EU.
Why aren’t this government doing more to prevent water companies from discharging sewage into our rivers and seas . At the global climate summit there’s talk about saving the planet and providing billions of pound’s. But there’s no talk of investing money for replacing outdated Victorian sewer pipes .