Time to get tough on the polluters

Time to get tough on the polluters

Amanda Hack welcomes new legislation and urges residents to join the ‘Big River Watch’ as water issues feature prominently in her work in Westminster.

North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack has welcomed the new government’s tough stance on water company bosses who pollute Britain’s waterways.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill will deliver on the Labour manifesto to clean up our rivers and streams by strengthening legal powers to bring charges against company executives who break the law by blocking or refusing to cooperate with investigations into pollution incidents. Proposed penalties include a ban on bonus payments and criminal convictions, including prison sentences.

Other measures in the Bill include severe and automatic fines, independent monitoring of all sewage outlets and a mandatory obligation to report spills within an hour of the initial pollution incident.

Amanda Hack said:

“Voters regularly raised the terrible state of local rivers and brooks during the general election campaign. That’s why backing moves to clean up our waterways is a priority for my first term in parliament. I’ve already joined the All-Party Parliamentary Water Group and put questions to the regulator OFWAT.”

“The new legislation announced last week signals that the government is taking the issue very seriously. I’m fully behind the moves to crack down on water companies that fail communities and foul the environment.”

Sewage dumping is not the only water-related challenge facing North West Leicestershire.

“Flooding is also a major concern.” Amanda continued. “During my campaign, I was contacted by residents in many communities, including Donington-le-Heath, Long Whatton and Whitwick, raising a wide range of problems caused by Severn Trent Water. I am now in a stronger position to raise things directly with the company. I encourage people to contact my office with information on local flooding and pollution incidents.”

Amanda Hack is also building a productive working relationship with The Rivers Trust charity. She has encouraged North West Leicestershire residents to participate in the ‘Big River Watch’.

“Everyone can play a part in protecting the environment,” she said. “I want to encourage people to get outside, connect with their local rivers and streams and record and report what they find. The Rivers Trust has made this easy with their ‘Big River Watch’ app. Anyone who cares about water quality can spend 15 minutes observing and recording what they see, then upload their findings.

Don’t just leave it to the politicians; citizen science initiatives like this can play a big part in improving quality of life and building a better future for North West Leicestershire. I’m urging anglers, ramblers and wildlife watchers – especially children – to get involved.”