MPs are pushing for a new law that would require fines from water companies who pollute rivers to be used solely for restoring water quality in those rivers. This comes as the Treasury is attempting to take control of £11 million in fines, intended for small charities to restore rivers, which has been criticized by environmental groups.
In an effort to protect the water restoration fund and ensure that future fines collected from water companies are used for their intended purpose, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron is proposing an amendment to the water special measures bill on Tuesday. This amendment is supported by various environmental charities, including the Rivers Trust, who have expressed concerns about the possibility of the fund being abandoned and the money being absorbed by the Treasury.
Farron’s amendment is one of several being debated on Tuesday. Labour MP Clive Lewis is also backing an amendment to prevent bill payers from having to bail out failing water companies in the event of special administration.
This issue has gained attention as the government considers putting struggling Thames Water into special administration, as it faces a significant debt of £15 billion. Farron’s amendment would protect customers from potential bill increases to pay off creditors by allowing for up to 100% of debts to be cancelled in the event of special administration proceedings.
A petition signed by 34,000 people calling for Thames Water to be publicly owned has also been handed to the environment secretary, Steve Reed, ahead of a crucial high court hearing on the company’s future.
The protection of our water resources and the wider investment landscape in the UK is at stake, and it is crucial that action is taken to prevent consumers from bearing the burden of this mismanagement. The government must prioritize the restoration of rivers and ensure that the fines collected from polluting water companies are used for their intended purpose. To learn more about this issue, please visit the original article from The Guardian.