Cleethorpes MP urges Environment Secretary to set ‘more demanding targets’ for water companies after major sewage discharges

Cleethorpes MP urges Environment Secretary to set ‘more demanding targets’ for water companies after major sewage discharges

Cleethorpes MP, Martin Vickers, has urged the Environment Secretary to set more demanding targets on the water companies to reduce the number of sewage discharges.

It was recently revealed through new data that water companies have been discharging raw, untreated sewage into water ways and bathing sites.

The Surfers Against Sewage website regularly updates to show which areas are safe and which have seen sewage discharges.

Although the map states that the Humberston Fitties is currently clean, a pollution alert has been issued for Cleethorpes beach as storm sewage has been discharged from a sewage overflow in the past 48 hours.

In a statement after his visit to the House of Commons, Mr Vickers said: “The Government has done an enormous amount to identify discharges, until 2016 only 5% of discharges were monitored now it is 90%. We now need to ensure that those responsible have targets to reduce the number. That can’t be done just by passing resolutions as the opposition parties seem to think but by ensuring the necessary investment takes place as quickly as possible.”

Yesterday’s exchange in House of Commons saw Mr Vickers ask the Secretary of State to review the pre-existing targets sooner, as opposed to the previously set target of 2035.

Martin Vickers: “Last week, I met Anglian Water to discuss the situation that had developed in Cleethorpes. Notwithstanding what the Secretary of State has just said, I was left with the feeling that we could be harder on it in the targets that we set. Whether that is through my right hon. Friend, Ofwat or the Environment Agency matters not.

“Could we look again at the targets that we are setting? In his earlier response, the Secretary of State mentioned 2035. That is a long way away. Traders in Cleethorpes want people to come along and be confident that the waters are clean.”

George Eustice, Secretary of State, replied: “My hon. Friend raises an important point. We are mindful of the impacts on bills. The average increase in bills with the measures we outlined—the £56 billion package—will be about £12 per household per year by around 2030.

“However, we have said that we will review this in 2027, and if it is possible to accelerate more of that investment, we will do so and the Government at that time can consider that position. I repeat that it is not the case that nothing is happening until 2035; indeed, we are spending more than £3 billion out to 2025, which will lead to a 25% reduction.”