Tewkesbury MP raises dangerous combination of water pollution and flooding
Cameron Thomas, MP for the Tewkesbury Constituency, has used a debate on water quality to highlight the dangers that polluted waterways pose to Gloucestershire residents when their homes are repeatedly "swamped” by river water.
At a Westminster Hall Debate on Water Quality in Rivers, Lakes and Seas, Cameron focused on the health risks faced by his constituents when sewage-filled floodwater entering their homes.
He laid the blame firmly at the door of privately owned water companies, which continually discharge sewage into Tewkesbury’s waterways, whilst executives are rewarded with “obscene” salaries and bonuses. He further criticised the Environment Agency for its toothless response to the crisis.
Cameron said: “These pollution levels are dangerous to people. Please take a moment to consider what it is like for thousands of my residents, whose kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms are swamped with this filth on an annual basis.
“Severn Trent’s CEO was paid £3.2 million last year, whilst my residents water bills are due to rise by 40 percent. To add insult to injury, the Environment Agency awarded Severn Trent its highest grade for environmental performance. This in and of itself, is a scandal.
“The Liberal Democrats want to stop overseas shareholders from drawing money out of private water companies which are already struggling to stay solvent. Rather than nationalise these companies, we want to see them turned into Public Benefit Companies.
“I call on the government to prevent CEOs from drawing huge bonuses whilst this scandal continues, and fine them according to the mass of sewage discharged.”
Pollution in the rivers Severn and Avon are unacceptably high and both flow through Tewkesbury town. In November 2024, Cameron joined Tewkesbury Friends of the Earth and Safe Avon campaigners to test water samples at the Abbey Mill.
Since the groups began testing in June 2023, samples have consistently contained very high nitrate pollution, and high phosphate pollution. In the debate, Cameron explained:
“The River Avon is one of the worst polluted rivers in England: there were 6,573 sewage spills in 2023, which registered the River Avon as the third most polluted river in England.
“In the same year, sewage was released into the River Severn for over 30,000 hours across 3,057 spills, registering the Severn as another of the worst polluted in England and Wales.”
Cameron pushes minister for response
Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Flooding Emma Hardy MP, who responded on behalf of the government, failed to address the associated flooding issue that Cameron had raised.
Cameron added, “Whilst the minister addressed several issues facing our waterways, I was disappointed that she did not respond to the unique circumstances faced by my constituents and others whose homes have been flooded by contaminated water. I will follow this up with the Government and ensure we get a response.
“I was pleased that so many Liberal Democrat constituencies were represented at the debate, and unsurprisingly, Conservative MPs declined the opportunity to stand by their record, with hardly any in attendance.
“Indeed, 80 per cent of MPs from Reform UK Ltd represent coastal and riverside constituencies, but they also declined to represent their constituents at this important debate.”
