Sewage petition is launched by district’s angry residents

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.

It further demands that the council quizzes local MPs on why they rejected moves in Parliament to force water companies to improve their sewage 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 calls for a robust scrutiny of Thames Water when the firm makes a scheduled appearance at the council in March.

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

The petition claims that discharge of sewage into rivers and coastal outflows has become a growing programme due to chronic underinvestment by the private companies responsible for maintaining waste systems.

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

West Berkshire Council will respond to the petition 10 days after submission.