Government says it won’t ‘look the other way’ on sewage dumping
Ministers pledge action on sewage pollution after public pressure, but critics call plans vague and inadequate. Activists demand urgent, meaningful steps to hold water companies accountable and protect clean water access.
A fter three months of sitting on their hands, ministers have finally responded to our call to take action on sewage pollution, promising they won’t “look the other way”. But actions speak louder than words. When South West Water spilled sewage in November, they did nothing at all.
Last September, almost 50,000 of our supporters joined Jo Bateman in calling on the new government to take action so that water companies clean up their act, and we can all enjoy our right to swim.
It took more than 12 weeks for the government to respond with a list of meetings and reviews, as well as details of a water bill campaigners have already dismissed as inadequate. But rivers, lakes, and seas are being filled with sewage right now.
And when South West Water spilled sewage in Newquay last year, stopping hundreds of people from joining a Santa Swim, the government did nothing.
Ministers say they’re taking steps to improve “the culture of the water industry”, yet water companies are diverting cash earmarked for clean-ups to help pay bonuses.
Words won’t clean our rivers. Promises won’t stop sewage pouring into our seas. And fines definitely don’t cut it. We need urgent, meaningful action.
According to Katrina McDonnell, campaigns manager at Good Law Project, the government’s response is “too vague, without any concrete commitments or clarity on what the impacts of any measures will be”.
“We need a government brave enough to stand up to water companies putting people and our planet before profit,” McDonnell said.
We’re not backing down. We’re helping Jo Bateman broaden her challenge against South West Water, and fighting for your right to swim in clean water.
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