Stuie Posted November 9, 2021 Report Share Posted November 9, 2021 View in browser | Members Update Members Update November 8th, 2021 Environment Bill Update: Lords Amendment on Sewage Pollution - 8th November 2021 Dear Friend Many thanks to everyone who took the trouble to email their MP on sewage pollution. Whilst this led to a welcome U-turn by the government we now see that the new amendment they have tabled for debate this evening fails to ‘mirror’ that proposed by the Duke of Wellington. Unfortunately, what is before the House today is weaker with too much room for broad interpretation and simply does not go far enough – and in the little time that has been made available for scrutiny, legal commentators have already highlighted significant loopholes. At a time when public trust in politicians has once again been shaken we hope that MPs will stand firm and insist on clarity and action by Ministers to create a pathway out of pollution. We cannot accept for our rivers and seas to continue to be treated like an open sewer by water companies. Last year saw a record 400,000 releases of untreated sewage. This has to stop. The Parliamentary arithmetic means that the Government Amendment is likely to pass but this must not be without challenge. Without regulation, investment and enforcement anything agreed by Parliament today will not yield the scale or pace of change that the public expects and our environment so desperately needs. Which is why, once again we are asking you to email your MPs today with a copy of our amendment briefing and ask them to attend the debate this evening and publicly to seek clear assurances from Ministers before deciding how to vote on the amendment. These cover enforcement and regulation by OFWAT and the Environment Agency, on-going parliamentary scrutiny and increased investment in our creaking and leaking sewerage infrastructure which the Government now admits is no longer fit for purpose. These are set out in more detail in the briefing which can be downloaded here. Emailing your MP is simple. Just visit Theyworkforyou.com, enter your post code and when you get to your MP's page click the “send a message” button. Yours sincerely Martin Salter, Angling Trust Head of Policy The Angling Trust We are a not for profit organisation, representing anglers, fighting for fish, fishing and the environment. We are recognised by the Government as the National Governing Body for angling in England and partner with Visit Wales and Natural Resources Wales to promote Fishing in Wales. We are a member-based organisation made up of anglers of all disciplines providing a united front to represent, grow and protect our sport. By becoming a member of the Angling Trust you are helping to protect the waterways you fish in and the fish which live within them, ensuring their health and protection for future generations. Click here for more information about membership Angling Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, company number 05320350 Angling Trust & Fish Legal, Eastwood House, Rainbow Street, Leominster, HR6 8DQ Telephone: 01568 620447 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted November 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2021 Response from MP Dear Stuart, This Conservative government is the first government to set out our expectation that water companies must take steps to significantly reduce storm overflows. We have put our position on an enhanced legal footing. The Environment Bill will allow us to deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth. There has been a lot of scrutiny and the Bill has been substantially strengthened. On the issue of storm overflows. The amount of sewage discharge by water companies into our rivers is not acceptable. We have made it crystal clear to water companies that they must significantly reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows as a priority. If we do not start to see significant improvements, we will not hesitate to take action through a swathe of new measures directly on water companies in the Environment Bill. None of us voted to allow water companies to pump sewage into our rivers as some campaigns have caricatured in recent days. We actually voted in favour of a package of measures to reduce harms from storm overflows including: • a new duty directly on water companies to produce comprehensive statutory Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, setting out how they will manage and develop their drainage and sewerage system over a minimum 25-year planning horizon, including how storm overflows will be addressed through these plans. • a power of direction for the government to direct water companies in relation to the actions in these Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans. We will use this power of direction if plans are not good enough. This is a powerful tool. • a new duty on Government to produce a statutory plan to reduce discharges from storm overflows • a requirement for Government to produce a report setting out the actions that would be needed to eliminate discharges from storm overflows in England, and the costs and benefits of those actions. Both publications are required before 1 September 2022. • a new duty directly on water companies and the Environment Agency to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis. • a new duty directly on water companies to publish near real time information on the operation of storm overflows. This means it will be clear as to how often storm overflows are being used, which will aid enforcement. • a new duty directly on water companies to monitor the water quality upstream and downstream of storm overflows and sewage disposal works. • In July of this year, this Government set out, for the first time ever, its expectation that Ofwat (the regulator) should incentivise water companies to invest to significantly reduce the use of storm overflows in the forthcoming pricing review period. Ofwat will be required to act in accordance with this expectation. We have placed this policy position in law. The Government has met with the CEOs of water companies and stressed the need for focused action in this area. The water industry has been clear that they recognise what needs to be done: “The water industry recognises the need for urgent action on storm overflows as part of our commitment to protecting the environment. That is why we strongly support the Government’s efforts to tackle overflows, and are pleased to see important new measures in the Environment Bill for eliminating harm. “We have been working closely with environment groups and others to agree a plan of action for making the swift progress we all want to see. A crucial part of that will be Government giving clear direction to regulators via its “Strategic Policy Statement”, which is essential for enabling the schemes and investment needed to transform our sewerage infrastructure.” Water UK, November 2021 Thank you for writing to me on this important subject. Sir Robert Syms MP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted November 12, 2021 Report Share Posted November 12, 2021 I did eventually get a reply from my MP too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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