Water pressure: Petition against sewage spills in West Berkshire

A petition with more than 2,000 signatures is demanding that West Berkshire Council pressures Thames Water on the amount of sewage pouring into the district’s rivers.

The bid further demanded that the council quizzes local MPs on why they rejected moves in Parliament to force water companies to improve their sewerage systems.

MPs Laura Farris (Newbury) and John Redwood (Wokingham) voted down a Lords’ amendment to the Environment Bill which would have placed a legal duty on water companies to improve.

The petition was laid before West Berkshire’s recent full council meeting by Steve Masters (Green, Newbury Speen).

“The council has a legal and moral obligation to ensure our waterways are safe,” he said.

“I am sure that many, if not all present here this evening are shocked and stunned by the ongoing revelations that the privatised water companies were continuing to discharge sewage in record amounts including the rivers and canals that are a huge part of our landscape.”

The petition also called for a robust scrutiny of Thames Water when the company makes a scheduled appearance at the council in March next year.

“West Berkshire residents urge the council to condemn the discharge of raw sewerage into our waterways and end this destructive practice which also damages public health,” he added.

The petition further claimed that discharge of sewerage into rivers and coastal out flows has become a growing programme due to chronic under investment by the private companies responsible for maintaining waste systems.

“The people of West Berkshire are understandably angry about this especially at a time of growing environmental awareness in West Berkshire and the county at large,” he said.

West Berkshire Council will respond to the petition 10 days after it was submitted.