Feargal Sharkey is leading a mass rally to urge the Government to do more to tackle the sewage crisis
the country needs a “clear, decisive strategy” to clean up Britain’s waterways rather than “the confusing messaging” coming from the Government.
Charles Watson, Chair and Founder of River Action, which is coordinating the march, agreed that Labour’s plans “do not nearly go far enough to deal with the scale of the problem they have inherited”. Sharkey said he was hearing a “confusing message” from the Government, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs promising to restrict water boss bonuses, while the Treasury has refused to reintroduce caps on banker bonuses.
An independent commission should be appointed to carry out the review and report back to Parliament within the next six months, he said.On 26 October Feargal Sharkey will lead a march of major charities and environmentalists, including British Rowing, British Canoeing, Greenpeace, RSPB, The Women’s Institute, The Wildlife Trusts, the Rivers Trust and River Action.
In response to growing public outrage over the sewage crisis, water companies have proposed investing £105bn in their infrastructure over the next five years, but have said they will need to increase bills by up to 73 per cent in order to do so.Sharkey said it was “outrageous” that water companies were being allowed to increase bills by this amount and accused Ofwat of “dithering around, incapable of acting and protecting the public interest”.
Sharkey’s March for Clean Water will take place on October 26, days before Rachel Reeves is due to deliver her first budget as Labour chancellor.
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