North Northumberland election candidates slam water companies over dumping of sewage

The comments came at a hustings event in Alnwick organised by the local branch of Friends of the Earth with Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Northumberland Hub.

Audience member Colin Grimes asked why Northumbrian Water paid out tens of millions in dividends to shareholders, while still discharging record amounts of sewage into the region’s waterways.

Accounts figures for the company showed £105 million was paid out in 2023 to Northumbrian Water’s Hong Kong-based majority owner CK Hutchison Holdings and minority shareholder, New York private equity company KKR & Co. But data published by the Environment Agency revealed the company pumped raw sewage into rivers, lakes and seas for more than 280,000 hours last year alone.

Responding to Mr Grimes’ question, Labour candidate David Smith said: “I don’t want to be a politician that engages too much in hyperbole, but I think it is a national disgrace what has been happening with our waterways and coastlines with regards to sewage.

“Billions across all of the water companies has been taken out in dividends and now we have got some of the worst water quality we’ve had in many many years. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Environment Agency and Natural England, along with many other government departments, have been hollowed out.

“Natural England has had two thirds of its budget cut over the last 14 years. It shouldn’t be a surprise when we end up with these problems. We would improve the powers of the regulator to ensure bonuses couldn’t be paid out to chief executives and directors.

“For those that are persistent offenders, we will make it so criminal charges can be brought. Unless we go after the money, I don’t believe many water companies will taker the action that is necessary.”

Natalie Younes of the Liberal Democrats also outlined what her party would do in the event they were elected.

She said: “The Environment Agency doesn’t have the resources. The testing programme that was planned is doing less testing.

“The Independent reported that the EA only has the capacity to inspect waste water treatments once every 17 years. Is that good enough? No.

“We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, but raw sewage is being dumped into our water, where animals and our children want to enjoy. The Liberal Democrats would replace Ofwat and give powers to hold water companies to account.

“We would ban bonuses to water company’s chief execs. We will keep shouting and fighting.”

Green Party candidate Jan Rosen went one step further, arguing that the water companies should be brought back into public ownership.

He said: “I think it is a disgrace what’s happened. This is not a new issue – it has happened for 14 years under the Conservatives and it happened before that under Labour.

“It started with the privatisation of our utilities, where greed took over common sense and what was needed for people. I live in Morpeth and I see local children playing in the River Wansbeck – I wouldn’t allow my children, because frankly it is not safe.

“We need a fundamental change, we need utilities in our own hands. Until that system changes, I doubt anything will change. It needs to be done.”

Conservative incumbent Anne Marie Trevelyan meanwhile defended the Government’s record on the issue.

She said: “It was the Conservatives who brought in the monitoring system. In 2010, 7% of outlets were monitored, its 100% now. In some ways, it was the ultimate bad policy to make because we discovered the problem.

“Changing a very old dual sewage and rainwater system is a huge challenge. Having brought in monitoring we are able to tackle it.

“Wee have brought in unlimited fines on CEOs should they break the guidelines. There is a huge amount more to do across the country. Some water companies are doing more, more quickly but that is why we have those unlimited fines.

“Northumbrian Water have committed £4.5 billion across the next five years which is good. We’re seeing investments.

“We have created and discovered the problem and are now forcing ahead to get to grips with it, but it will be a number of years for the new infrastructure to go in.”

But Independent candidate Georgina Hill criticised the former Berwick MP’s voting record.

She said: “It is a disgrace that the water companies, with the huge profits they make, are not able to fulfil their obligations. The image of literal poo being in our bathing water is disgusting.

“Anne Marie has voted against measures to make the water companies responsible. As an independent MP I would be able to vote without being held to party whips.”

The Conservatives were criticised in October 2021 for voting down an amendment to the Environment Bill that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to pump waste into the water system. However, according to TheyWorkForYou.com, Ms Trevelyan was one of 177 MPs absent from that vote.

Northumbrian Water has previously defended its 2023 figures, arguing that it was one of the “wettest years” since storm overflow data was made available. Rainfall for the North East was around 35% higher than recorded in 2022, according to the company.

A spokesman insisted the company had a “clear plan of investment” to reduce reliance on storm overflows.

Also standing in North Northumberland are Katherine Hales (Reform UK), Michael Joyce (Independent) and Andrew Martin (Social Democratic Party).