2nd October 2024
The new MP for Henley and Thame, Freddie van Mierlo has welcomed steps taken by the government to limit the pay of water company bosses, but believes rules to increase the powers of water regulators are nothing more than ‘window dressing’.
Speaking after draft legislation was released, Freddie van Mierlo said: “The Government's plans imagine a world where water bosses are being jailed but in reality, this rhetoric is a distraction from the necessary root and branch reform that the Lib Dems have been calling for.”
Freddie added: “The real test of these reforms will be seen on the ground at places like the Bayswater Brook development in the Henley and Thame constituency.”
“The Environment Agency objected to the 1500 houses South East of Oxford because of delayed upgrades to Oxford’s sewage treatment works. It’s an unusual move by the Environment Agency, which doesn’t typically make such strong statements. If Labour are truly serious about home building, they need to get on and deliver the infrastructure upgrades needed – especially in waste water treatment”
“My fear is the Government’s proposed measures on sewage will prove to be completely ineffective and we will see that played out locally as inappropriate development is allowed to happen against the wishes of local people.”
South Oxfordshire District Council will be deciding on the planning application by Christchurch College on land north of Bayswater Brook at 18:00 on the 9th of October.
Natural England has reported that just 14% of our waterways are in good condition and in 2020 and 2021 water company executives have paid themselves £51 million in remuneration including £30.6 million in bonuses over the same period.
The Liberal Democrats would:
- End sewage dumping;
- Abolish Ofwat and replace it with a new regulator with proper teeth to tackle sewage dumping.
- Introduce a sewage tax to fund the clean up of the most polluted lakes, rivers and coastlines.
- Transform England’s water companies into public benefit companies.
