As a passionate conservationist, I take a deep interest in our natural environment, fully recognising the importance of ensuring clean and healthy rivers - both locally and nationally.
Since first elected in 2016, I have campaigned tirelessly to tackle issues of water pollution and flooding for my constituents in Witney and West Oxfordshire.
Following reports of frequent, unacceptable discharges taking place over recent months, I wrote to Sarah Bentley, CEO of Thames Water on two separate occasions to reaffirm my strong opposition to any sewage releases.
Recently, I welcomed Thames Water’s confirmation following my campaign that expansion works to increase capacity at the Witney Sewage Treatment Works by 50 per cent will begin this month and reach completion by March next year. I was also encouraged to receive further confirmation of investment in sewage treatment works across West Oxfordshire.
Of course, I will continue to push for further infrastructure upgrades across West Oxfordshire. Whilst the recent progress being made locally by Thames Water to address these issues is encouraging, I will continue to hold Thames Water to account on delivering these infrastructure upgrades over the coming weeks and months.
Nationally, I was pleased with the Government’s announcements following my campaign alongside the Conservative Environment Network and colleagues in Parliament to consult on making sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which ensure things like soakways for rainwater are mandatory for new developments.
When new homes are built, they must have the infrastructure that is needed to go with them, and that is never more important than when we are ensuring that our sewage networks are able to cope.
If the legal changes I am campaigning for were implemented, it would mean water companies and would have to work together to ensure that the increase in demand for connection to their sewage network was matched by the money needed to make the necessary upgrades. In turn, we would get the upgrades to our water systems that we expect, and we would have a system that can cope with developers paying their fair share.
I welcome the recent progress being made both locally and nationally to address these issues which will go a long way to save water, tackle flooding and reduce water pollution.
