Call for proper water industry watchdog

South Cambridgeshire MP calls for water regulator to be replaced with proper industry watchdog

Pippa Heylings MP has responded to the government announcing a new review of the water industry, by calling for the regulator Ofwat to be replaced.

Today, the government announced a new Independent Water Commission to deliver the biggest review of the industry since privatisation.

However the Liberal Democrats have called for more urgency in dealing with the sewage crisis, which plagues Britain’s coastlines, lakes and rivers.

Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire, Pippa Heylings said:

“One of the key issues that residents are horrified by in South Cambridgeshire is the dumping of raw sewage into our treasured chalk streams such as the Rivers Mel, Rhee, Shep and Granta.

“I have long campaigned on this issue - I raised setting up a new regulator which has the power to rein in the water companies on Politics Live in my very first week as an MP and then voted for it along with my Lib Dem colleagues.”

“The Liberal Democrats have been advocating for this for a long time, and this Commission is a good development,  but we need far more urgency from the government if we are to stop Anglian Water from polluting our community with foul sewage.

"Whilst a review of the industry is welcome, it should not be used as a tool to kick the can down the road on immediate reforms.

"Even before this Commission begins, the government should be getting on with introducing a new regulator with real teeth and power to get hold of these profiteering firms.

"Sadly, the government's approach is still a job half done.

“It is time to put an end to profit before the environment in the water industry, and end this national scandal."