The dumping of sewage into our rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023. According to the Environment Agency, there were 3.6 million hours of sewage discharges, compared with 1.75 million hours in 2022.
The FT recently exposed the fact that two of Britain’s biggest water firms have failed to map large parts of their sewage networks, underscoring the inability of privatised utility companies to fix their poor environmental record and reduce spills.
It is a scandal.
Last year there was the equivalent to 186 days worth of sewage discharges in the rivers around Cheltenham – the biggest being in Andoversford which recorded an outrageous 87 days alone.
This must stop. The Green Party would end this failed experiment in privatisation, bringing the water companies back into public control so we can clean up this industry.
The Council needs to focus more support on the poorest areas I call upon the Lib Dem-run council, particularly its newly elected members, to focus on those who need the most support and not on loss-making projects such as the ice rink.
The ice rink ran at a £74,000 loss last year.
The cost-of-living crisis on the back of 14 years of Tory austerity has left Cheltonians needing the council’s support more than ever. Many cannot afford to travel into town, let alone the high prices to use the ice rink. They could, however, have benefited from a share of the £74,000 to fund additional support such as help insulating housing in the most deprived areas of the the town. The town centre continues to receive a disproportional amount of council funds and I would urge them to consider abandoning the ice rink and using the money for something which supports the areas most in need of the help.
We need a general election now
Voters up and down the country, including here in Cheltenham, have once again made it clear to Rishi Sunak that they are fed up with his Conservative government. It is time for change.
Whilst the Prime Minister can in theory limp on until January 2025 before he needs to go to the polls, he should look at the recent local results and accept it is time to hold a general election at the earliest opportunity.