Urgent action to prevent yet further damage to the Evenlode
| Martin Goodson |
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Wed 3 Sep, 17:05 (last edited on Wed 3 Sep, 21:26) A group of hedge funds has proposed a deal to provide an injection of cash for Thames Water, as reported today by the FT. Apparently the deal incorporates exemption from certain pollution targets as a precondition for the cash. This is precisely the opposite of what is needed to save the River Evenlode from further degradation. I am writing to Sean Woodcock, asking him to intervene, and I hope that others will join me. It would be helpful if others would also be able to write to him at sean.woodcock.mp@parliament.uk. Please add a comment to this post if you're able. My email, in case it is helpful, is pasted below: Subject: Please raise concerns about Thames Water deal and sewage pollution targets Dear Sean Woodcock, I am writing as your constituent to raise my concern about reports in today's Financial Times that the proposed deal between Ofwat and Thames Water’s creditors - Elliott Management and Silver Point Capital - may include lower targets on sewage pollution. This is deeply worrying. Weakening these standards would have significant impacts on our local environment, especially the River Evenlode, which is already badly polluted by Thames Water sewage discharges. A recent survey by the Riverfly Partnership found that none of the monitored invertebrate species were found in the river - the first time this has ever happened. Our community cannot afford to see protections diluted at a time when urgent action is needed to restore water quality and prevent the collapse of this ecosystem. I would be grateful if you could table a Parliamentary Written Question to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, asking whether the proposed deal between Ofwat and Thames Water’s creditors includes lower sewage pollution targets, and what steps the government will take to ensure rivers such as the Evenlode are properly protected. This is an issue of great importance to people across our constituency, and I hope you will press the government to put environmental safeguards before financial convenience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, Martin Goodson [My Address] |