Wednesday, 13th March 2024
Daniel Kawczynski MP Writes to the Chief Executive of Severn Trent to Demand Further Action to Tackle Sewage Pollution
Yesterday, Daniel Kawczynski MP wrote to Olivia Garfield CBE, Chief Executive of Severn Trent, to demand accelerated action to tackle sewage pollution across Shropshire.
Severn Trent has recently confirmed £256 million of investment across Shropshire to tackle pollution.
However, Daniel Kawczynski MP has written to Severn Trent’s Chief Executive to push for even more investment and deliver it faster to ensure that pollution is reduced and all storm overflows comply with their spill targets as soon as possible.
Daniel Kawczynski MP Commented:
‘I welcome the £256 million investment to tackle storm overflows across Shropshire, which shows that our plan is working. But I have been clear that Severn Trent must go further and faster to tackle the completely unacceptable pollution across Shropshire. They have a responsibility to deliver for taxpayers, and today’s announcement demonstrates the need for stronger leadership at the helm of Severn Trent on this issue. That is why I wrote yesterday to the Chief Executive of Severn Trent to express my concerns about the speed of investment delivery and to request tougher action.’
Yesterday’s funding announcement came after the Government recently announced a strict new inspections and enforcement regime. We have already increased our oversight of water companies, and the EA has carried out over 930 inspections this financial year. But the Government is going further, and the number of inspections, including unannounced inspections where officers have powers to gain forcible entry where needed and appropriate, will rise to 4,000 by the end of March 2025 – a fourfold increase. From April 2026, the number of inspections will increase to 10,000 annually. This is in addition to a ban on bonuses for executives of water companies found to have committed a serious breach of the criminal law
