End the Sewage Discharge Scandal
The Liberal Democrats have called for a new protected status for local rivers and marine protected areas, after shocking figures reveal that Wessex Water dumped sewage 1,433 times in Salisbury in 2023.
Analysis of official data from the Environment Agency by the party shows that Wessex Water discharged sewage in Salisbury’s waterways for a staggering 21,875 hours in 2023.
In an effort to tackle sewage dumping, the Liberal Democrats have announced a massive expansion of marine protected areas and a new Blue Flag status for rivers will be included in the party’s general election manifesto. The introduction of Blue Flag status would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping in those sites, giving special protected status for swimmers and wildlife.
Salisbury’s Liberal Democrats have led the way in campaigning against sewage dumping in the area. Nationally the party recently announced plans to abolish Ofwat, introducing a new regulator with greater powers, which follows its plans for a ban on water company executive bonuses.
Victoria Charleston, Liberal Democrat candidate for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, said:
Salisbury’s precious rivers are being devastated after years of a Conservative government letting water firms get away with environmental vandalism.
This scandal has to end now. The Conservative party has failed to protect swimmers and wildlife.
The Liberal Democrats will have the boldest manifesto on cleaning up our rivers and coastlines. Families should be free to swim, anglers should be able to fish and we should all be able to enjoy the wildlife in and on our rivers safe in the knowledge that our waters are not polluted with sewage.
Victoria Charleston