Dave Robertson
Dave Robertson

LICHFIELD’S MP has called for water company bosses to face consequences for failures to deal with sewage spills.

Dave Robertson’s comments follow the publication of data that revealed record levels of sewage were pumped into Britain’s rivers in 2023.

The number of sewage discharges in the Lichfield constituency skyrocketed by 67%, to 560 sewage spills in 2023 compared to 336 in 2022.

Speaking in Parliament this week, the Labour MP said there should be “nowhere to hide” for water company bosses behind such incidents.

It comes as the UK and Welsh governments launched a new Independent Water Commission to review the water industry and ensure the necessary regulations are brought in to clean up our waterways.

Mr Robertson said:

“There are 21 local government wards that make up my constituency of Lichfield. In just one of them, Bagots and Needwood, they were subjected to 3,000 hours of sewage spills in just one year.

“Can the Secretary of State assure me that after 14 years of failure, this commission will leave nowhere to hide for criminal water bosses?”

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“That is absolutely [an] intention.”

The new commission will be chaired by Jon Cunliffe, former Deputy Bank of England Governor.

It will report back next year with recommendations to the government on how to tackle the challenge to restore orivers, lakes and seas to good health.

Launching the review, Mr Reed said:

“After years of neglect, our waterways are now in an unacceptable state and our water system urgently needs fixing.

“That is why we have launched a Water Commission to attract the investment we need to clean up our waterways and speed up infrastructure delivery.

“Following the commission’s conclusion, the government will introduce ambitious legislation to restore confidence in the sector once and for all.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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Philip
7 days ago

With any enterprise with shareholders a large proportion of the profits are paid out as dividends and overheads (directors remuneration and bonuses). With no competition there is little incentive for improvements. Because of this the amenities quickly deteriorate. Water and sewage has been particularly affected because of housing expansion, population growth and global warming causing higher rainfall. The only counter for this has been an increase, several times, of water rates.
With the lack of accountability the only sensible course of events is to renationalise. If a realistic price cannot be agreed then punitive fines should be imposed for any further transgressions.

Russ Bragger
7 days ago

A refreshing change for the Lichfield MP to be calling for the water companies to be accountable for the sewage pumped into our waterways.

Gurt
7 days ago

I call for MPs to be accountable to their constituents. Namely the elderly they have taken the winter fuel payment off

Realist
5 days ago

I call for MPs to be accountable to all their constituents. Namely kids who can’t get in to see dentists, pupils who don’t have adequately qualified maths teachers, young adults who can’t afford a place to live, anyone who can’t work because they’re stuck on an NHS waiting list and those pensioners who truly need the winter fuel allowance. To those wealthy pensioners who don’t actually need the winter fuel allowance, thank you for playing your part in contributing to making society more equitable.

belleview
4 days ago

@Gurt : Gurt we need to count ourselves lucky we could have the honourable Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsbly , you get more than the winter fuel allowance taken off you.