Coogan’s fears over Windermere ‘timebomb’

STEVE Coogan claims a water company has created a ‘timebomb’ in Britain’s largest lake by dumping untreated sewage in its catchment.

The Middleton-born comedian and actor has spoken out again over the state of Windermere, after last year describing its pollution as a ‘national scandal.’ He joined a protest at England’s largest lake against what he said was inaction by Tories, Labour and United Utilities, which serves northwest England.

He said: “If England can’t clean up its crowning glory, then what hope is there?”

Coogan joined forces with the Would I Lie to You and The 1% Club star Lee Mack to demand a water company removed sewage from the lake.

Now the Alan Partridge star is supporting Matt Staniek, 28, a zoologist who is staging his 24th week of a ‘sewage strike’ outside a United Utilities information centre at Windermere.

Coogan said: “People are entitled to expect United Utilities to deliver a good service, and putting sewage into the lake is not providing a good service.”

United Utilities was the worst water company for sewage spills last year, accounting for almost 100,000, partly owing to its high number of storm overflow outlets.

Coogan said the result was a ‘timebomb’ of pollution at the bottom of Windermere. Nutrient pollution from sewage discharges and other sources has been linked to several toxic algal blooms in recent years that have turned the lake green, and which are now being tracked by satellites.

“This is not just an environmental issue, it’s not a fringe issue,” Coogan said. “Ordinary people use these lakes who can’t afford to go on expensive holidays. It’s what the public deserve and are entitled to.”

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “We are proposing a £14billion investment plan across the north west – one of the largest ever seen. That will help us deal with the increasing challenges of a changing climate and reduce the number of spills from storm overflows.

“However, last year was one of the wettest years on record in the north west and that contributed to an increased number of storm overflow operations.

“Looking specifically at Lake Windermere, since 2015, we have invested £45million which has helped us halve the levels of phosphorus entering the lake from our systems. But we know there is more to do and that’s why we have brought forward a new £41m programme of investment, which will halve storm overflow operation at four sites in Windermere by 2030.”