Skip to main content

Welsh Conservatives ‘Blatantly Ignoring’ River Pollution

 

 


The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Welsh Conservative MP’s of ‘blatantly ignoring’ the issue of river pollution. The accusation comes as MPs voted for legalisation designed to tackle river pollution on October 20.

The Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales “to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage.”

 

The Amendment was rejected after 265 Conservative MPs voted against it, including ten Welsh Conservative MPs, including David T C Davies, despite the fact the River Wye, which has reported serious pollution problems in recent years, travels through his Constituency. Likewise, Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones did not register a vote, meaning she either abstained or did not attend the vote. Again despite the fact that the River Wye originates and travels through her Constituency.

 

Recent figures by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water found that in 2020 alone, the Combined Storm Overflows in areas linked to the River Wye were open for more than 17.4 million minutes, amounting that amounts to 33 years’ worth of sewage entering brooks, streams and rivers in just 12 months.

 

Across Wales as a whole, raw sewage was dumped into Welsh rivers more than 100,000 times last year, for almost 900,000 hours.

 

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “It is utterly unbelievable that ten Welsh Conservative MPs would vote against this much-needed piece of legalisation, while the remaining three did not even register a vote.

 

“The evidence is clear, with fewer than half of Welsh rivers meeting good ecological status, our rivers, and the life inside of them, are dying. This is in a large part down to raw sewage being dumped into them, alongside the ocean and even some lakes.

 

“The Welsh Conservatives should be utterly ashamed of missing such a vital opportunity to help save our rivers, especially David T C Davies and Fay Jones with the River Wye being cherished by their constituents and those from further afield. Concerns over the River Wye are the most common piece of casework I am receiving, I am more than sure that will be true for Fay Jones and David T C Davies as well.

 

“Welsh waterways belong to us all and it is disrespectful that some water companies continue to treat them like open sewers. This Bill could have seen the tide turn against this practice and I share the devastation of environmental groups that the Conservatives have chosen to scupper it.”

Labels

Labels:
Location: Wales, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ed Davey writes: I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories

  we wrap up the Liberal Democrat leadership election, I wanted to thank the thousands of people who have taken part in hustings, sent in questions to the campaigns and engaged in this contest. It’s absolutely right that there is a robust process that properly tests our next leader, and makes sure that whoever wins on Thursday has been put through their paces by the party. Whatever happens later this week, I know that Liberal Democrats will come together and turn our hand to doing what we do best, getting out campaigning and standing up for communities up and down the country. If you haven’t returned your ballot yet then there is still time to vote for me so that we can rebuild our party on solid foundations, and campaign for a fairer, greener and more caring society. That’s my vision for the future of our party, and I know I’ve got the experience we need to deliver it.  With your support, I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories, and put ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

  he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before it’s too late, the coal must be left in the ground.   The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend.   The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mine’s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development.   The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong g...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies.   "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers...
Post a Comment
Read more