I was pleased to speak in the House of Commons this week to call for cross-party support for the Government’s announcement that it will make sewage overflow reduction plans legally binding.
While sewage overflows and water quality are clearly issues that affect the whole country, I know that these present an acute challenge for residents in Runnymede and Weybridge. Some face the direct threat of overflows into their homes at times of heavy rainfall, with many more affected by the impact of overflows into our rivers and waterways. I am keenly aware of the distress and concern this causes.
That is why I backed the Government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan of 2022, which set out stringent targets to protect people and the environment, backed up by up to £56 billion of capital investment.
However, it is evident that we need to go further, and I fully support the Government’s announcement that it will make its costed and credible targets to reduce storm overflows, set out in the Environment Act 2021, legally binding on water companies. You can view my speech in support of this measure above.
This is an issue of national importance and one which requires priority action, but stopping sewage overflows overnight - as the opposition have called for - will lead to large increases in bills and devastating consequences for those faced with the prospect of sewage spilling into their homes. This challenge must be handled in a way which is sustainable and affordable. The Government’s plan will achieve this.
As well as backing the Government’s plan, I will continue to work closely with Thames Water and the Environment Agency to push for infrastructure investment to bring forward improvements in the situation for residents of Runnymede and Weybridge as quickly as possible.
