Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed UK water companies including United Utilities – who are the North West’s provider – after “years of sewage scandal”.  United Utilities contributed to an apology statement issued by Water UK on May 18. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Apologies won’t do anything to improve the quality of our waterways.  This statement is meaningless without proper reform of water companies, who have spent years destroying our waterways and putting public health at risk.”

Liberal Democrats have called for an overhaul of UK water companies and an end to bonus for bosses presiding over sewage dumping practices. 

Councillor Sykes said, “It’s a disgrace that the government has continually allowed water company bosses to profit from polluting our waterways.  Now that United Utilities have taken some responsibility for this environmental catastrophe, will the Conservative government step up?  Or will they continue to vote to block reform of water companies, as they have consistently done over recent years?”   

NOTES

Full Water UK statement here: Water and sewage companies in England apologise for sewage spills and launch massive transformation programme | Water UK

Oldham Liberal Democrats “Save Our Rivers” campaign: Save Our Rivers: Liberal Democrats call for Sewage Tax on river polluters – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)