Conservative MPs for Hampshire block new sewage bill in Parliament

Conservative MPs for Hampshire block new sewage bill in Parliament

• Conservative MPs block new tough measures on water companies despite sewage discharges in rivers, lakes and beaches
• Liberal Democrats slam “scandalous” decision by the Government to block the bill

On Tuesday 25th April, the Government blocked a new law which would have clamped down on water firms found to be discharging sewage into rivers, lakes and coastlines.

Conservative MPs, including the local MP for Eastleigh, Paul Holmes, voted to block the bill which would have introduced automatic fines on water companies breaking their sewage dumping permits.

Opposition MPs, including the Liberal Democrats supported the Sewage Discharge Bill.

The Sewage Discharge Bill would have:

• Imposed automatic fines on water companies for sewage discharges
• Introduced legal requirements for monitoring sewage and fining broken sewage monitors
• Implemented legally binding targets on reducing sewage discharges
• Required the Government to public a strategy for the reduction of sewage discharges

Last year, raw sewage was pumped into rivers and seas for 1.75 million hours, an average 825 times per day, according to official Environment Agency data.

Liberal Democrat analysis of Environment Agency data also found 2,300 sewage monitors were found to be faulty last year, a staggering one in six of all monitors.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding an end to sewage discharges into wildlife habits and swimming areas, including beaches and bathing water status lakes. The party is also demanding a ban on all water company senior executive bonuses until the discharges stop.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis, said:

“This is a hammer blow to our local community who are desperate for the sewage crisis to end.

“The Rivers Itchen and Hamble has been plagued by foul sewage discharges. People across Eastleigh are furious about this, yet the Conservative Government keeps blocking new laws to get tough on water companies.

“Enough is enough. Conservative MPs, including those in our area, need to start listening to local people. This shameful vote by Conservative MPs is really outrageous.”

Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

“It is scandalous that Conservative MPs have blocked the Sewage Discharge Bill.

“This is a new low for Conservative MPs who simply don’t care about the sewage crisis. They would rather these water firms raking in millions in profits whilst we all swim in sewage. Frankly, the whole thing stinks.

“The British public will rightly be furious with the Conservative Government for this latest sewage vote fiasco. Next week will be judgement day for Conservative politicians at the ballot box, when voters will have their say on the sewage crisis.”