Protesters demand crackdown on sewage
PROTESTERS, some in in swimming gear and holding rolls of toilet paper, gathered outside the Conservative Club in Totnes on Saturday to air their fury over raw sewage being discharged into the River Dart.
The demonstrators unveiled a blue plaque to local Tory MP Anthony Mangnall, ‘commemorating’ his vote against requiring improved sewerage systems and a reduction in the harm caused by untreated sewage discharges.
Many of those gathered to protest said they had become ill after swimming in the river or at local beaches in Devon. The demonstration followed an increasing number of sewage alerts placed on beaches in Devon and around the South West.
Mr Mangnall, Conservative MP for Totnes and South Devon, was among 265 MPs who voted for a watereddown bill in October last year that failed to ensure that water companies had a ‘duty’ not to discharge untreated sewage into waterways from storm pipes.
The River Dart, which runs through Mr Mangnall’s constituency, is one of the most popular rivers for wild swimming in the country.
Ed Funnell, speaking at Saturday’s protest in Totnes, declared: “Everybody is here because they have their own story to tell about becoming sick, or of looking after a family member or friend who has become ill from swimming in contaminated water in a G7 country.
“Legislation is what our MPs are for and that is being avoided and side stepped, and at the same time there is misinformation being put out. We know there is an issue.”
Earlier this month, it was reported Defra minister Trudy Harrison admitted that beach closures were not being monitored.
Speaking to Parliament at the start of November, she said: “Neither [Defra] nor the Environment Agency holds information on the number of beach closures due to sewage pollution in England.”
Some locals said they had become ill after visiting local waters. Dr Jo Rose, who attended the protest, said: “Our family all got sick. 12 hours of continuous vomiting.
“You’re supposed to not go in the river if it’s rained a lot and you’re supposed to avoid it if it’s not rained. Even if we got a designated and protected swimming area, that wouldn’t protect it all year round.”