Keep the taps running in South of England

I SAW that the Environment Agency has recently updated its Summary of Regional and Water Resources Management Plans. It notes: “In England, our climate is changing, our population is growing, and as a nation we want an improved environment along with a thriving economy, enabled by resilient water supplies.

“Action is required now to meet these objectives.”

“The scale of the challenge we face increases with time and, by 2050, we are looking at a shortfall of nearly five billion litres of water per day between the sustainable water supplies available and the expected demand.

“This is more than a third of the 14 billion litres of water currently put into public water supply.

“The deficit has risen in the revised draft plans due to updated demand forecasts, additional reductions associated with protecting and improving the environment, and better representation of the baseline supply position without drought measures included.

“Some customers are already facing issues. “In parts of Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, housing and business growth have been affected, as there already is not enough water.

“We also have concerns, following recent droughts, that some water companies’ supplies are not resilient enough.

“The latest water resources management plans produced by water companies are critical for society, setting out efficient solutions that give value and reassurance to customers.

“Once finalised, the effective delivery of these plans will be extremely important to ensure sustainable growth.

“If delivery is unsuccessful, we will face growing water supply deficits.”

As Thames Water is struggling under the weight of borrowings of nearly £19bn and last year its auditor warned it could run out of cash by April this year (reported by the Telegraph on February 16), I would say that these plans are very much at risk.

The Liberal Democrats have been calling on the Government for months now to ensure the taps are kept running.

In February, the Government passed new legislation which allows the High Court to appoint a special administrator to take over a failing water firm.

With Thames Water unable to pay its debts, and now recusing itself from new sewage investments, it is time Thames Water was put into special administration to ensure on-going damaging effects do not happen.

Under the new Government rules, the taxpayer would not be liable for Thames Water’s debts, which stay with the holding company. The special administrator could ensure:

The taps keep running for millions of households across the capital and South of England.

The company would become stable

again and no longer be reliant on its failing board, working in the public interest.

The company would re-start efforts to stop harmful sewage discharges into rivers and lakes.

Executive bonuses would no longer be paid, after the firm paid out £8m to senior officials in recent years. The Liberal Democrats’ proposal for Thames Water would lead to the firm being reformed as a public benefit company, which includes an environmentalist on the company board.

The company would work in the public interest as well as for shareholders.

I put it that the residents of West Berkshire know a poor service when they see one, and this is very poor service and poor value for money from Thames Water.

It is time that the Government’s cosying up to the political donations of big water ended now. CHRIS READ

Liberal Democrat councillor for Bucklebury ward

West Berkshire Council