Seaton MP successfully amends bill to to clamp down on polluting water companies

Seaton MP Richard Foord has been successful in calling for a stop to taxpayers' money being used by water companies, unless they demonstrate how sewage discharges into local rivers will stop.

The government this week accepted the Tiverton & Honiton MP's amendment to the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill, which he said originally offered a blank cheque, funded by taxpayers, to polluting water companies.

The government's original proposal made no reference to sewage discharges and was described as "scandalous" by Axminster's MP, given the firms' polluting habits and multi-million pound bonuses to executives last year. 

The change to the Bill means the UK Infrastructure Bank can only fund water companies if they produce a costed and time-limited plan for ending sewage discharges into rivers. 

The Liberal Democrats will continue their campaign to demand that the government puts an end to water companies polluting local rivers and wildlife with sewage discharges. 

Commenting on the win, Mr Foord said: "This is a victory for millions of people across the country who have voiced their outrage at water companies being allowed to get away with polluting rivers and coastlines. 

"The Liberal Democrats have been the people's voice on this environmental scandal, and we will continue to champion their cause. 

"My amendment ensures water companies won't receive a blank cheque with taxpayers' money whilst they pollute our rivers and damage local wildlife.

"It would have been scandalous for taxpayers' money to be thrown at firms who pay their execs multi-million pound bonuses, all whilst destroying our environment. 

"However, there is still a long way to go. The government is still refusing to ban sewage discharges into swimming water and areas where protected wildlife live - and they are still refusing to ban water company CEOs rewarding themselves with bonuses whilst this environmental scandal happens.

"The fight continues, and I'll keep holding the government and water companies to account until Devon is safe from this deluge of sewage."

"My own constituency has suffered from regular sewage gushing onto beaches and into our rivers. Until that stops, the Government shouldn't be throwing taxpayers' money at water companies."