Sewage Apology is Too Little, Too Late says Lib Dem campaigner

Almost 30,000 “spills” in Northumbria Water’s area were recently reported by The Times newspaper.

Northumbria Water’s apology through Water UK is far too late after years of sewage scandal, say Newcastle Liberal Democrats. They have called for all water companies – many paying their top people millions of pounds each, and massive bonuses - to be overhauled following this overdue apology for sewage dumping. This story was reported locally at https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/call-northumbrian-water-reformed-top-27030285

In a statement issued through Water UK on 18th May, water and sewage companies nationwide admitted to dragging their heels on taking action to stop sewage discharges into our coastlines, rivers and lakes.

Newcastle Liberal Democrats are also demanding an apology from the Government for ordering its MPs to vote down tougher action on water firms.

Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate for Newcastle East, Mark Ridyard (pictured above), said: “This announcement is too little too late after years of putting public health at risk and large-scale environmental damage, which has previously been arrogantly dismissed by the water industry. This apology means nothing unless the firm is completely reformed from top to bottom. Protecting the environment should be more important than making overseas investors rich and richly rewarding directors’ failure.

“To add insult to injury, this Conservative Government has spent recent years voting down tougher action on polluting water firms. They too owe people an apology.”

The Liberal Democrats are calling for water firms to become “public benefit companies,” making environmental goals more important than profits, and making it compulsory for environmental experts to sit on their company boards. This would put an end to billions of pounds being wasted in dividends whilst sewage destroys waterways.

The CEO of Northumbria Water is also the Chair of Newcastle’s Waste Commission.