6,000 Hours of Sewage Spilled in River Weaver in 2023
8 Months of Sewage Spilled in River Weaver in 2023
New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that United Utilities, which covers Mid Cheshire, discharged sewage a staggering 97,537 times last year, a 41% rise compared to in 2022.
Mid Cheshire Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers/beaches, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.
Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including Winsford’s outgoing MP Edward Timpson, the MP for Eddisbury.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Cheshire, Jack Price-Harbach said:
“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Mid Cheshire’s rivers and waterways.
“Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping.
"The spillages in the River Weaver, which flows through my constituency are literally sickening. How can United Utilities justify paying dividends of £113 million to their shareholders when they’ve spilled 6,000 hours worth of sewage, just in the River Weaver alone? I live very close to the River Weaver and I’ve noticed a decline in how often my constituents go swimming, rowing or kayaking, such is the disgusting state of it!
And to top it all off, those dividends are higher than the actual profits United Utilities made, leaving customers with an increase in their annual bills. My constituents will not tolerate this and if elected, I will be holding United Utilities accountable in Parliament.”
As your parliamentary candidate, Jack will always fight to protect our environment from scrupulous Tory deregulation. If you feel as passionate as we Liberal Democrats do about stopping the sewage, then we need your support!