A Call to Action
A message from our Club Secretary, Jason Harper.
Hello Folks,
Sadly the Lords amendment of clause 45 (to place a legal duty on water companies over the sewerage they release), was rejected with the majority of MPs voting against it last week citing cost as a factor.
https://www.theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/sewage-scaremongering
You can see how your local MP voted on the clause here (ayes voted to reject the clause),
https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1116
My MP, Gary Streeter voted "aye" (to reject the amendment).
The Bill now goes back to the Lords which has indicated it will re-insert the clause before sending it back to the Commons again. The Government is trying to prevent this by making vague assurances of greater legal protection.
However, its track record on keeping promises is not good, and anything they offer wil afford less protection than the proposed Lords amendment (otherwise it would have been accepted).
If you feel this issue is important, you may wish to contact your MP before the Lords send the Bill back to the commons again, and ask them to support the amendment this time around. You could direct them to this map, and specifically our Plymouth region, which shows a frankly disgraceful record of raw sewerage release into our rivers, and subsequently our National Marine Reserve, Plymouth Sound:
Of particular concern shouod be the Gratton works on the Meavy.
You can find details of how to contact your MP here:
https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
With thanks,
Jason
