Local Greens in Maidstone have welcomed a call by the Environment Agency for Chief Executives and Board members of the most seriously polluting water companies to be jailed but the Greens point out that the only way problems can be properly addressed is by reverting water companies to government ownership.
In addition, Green councillor Stuart Jeffery, will be presenting a motion to Maidstone Borough’s Full Council meeting calling for the Council to take heightened actions on water pollution.
Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Maidstone Borough Council, Bridge Ward), “The pollution that these water companies are responsible for is criminal and it is right that executives should face personal criminal liability for future crimes.
“Maidstone has the final non-tidal part of the Medway catchment area, the biggest in the South East and because of Southern Water we have appalling water quality. Water should never have been privatised, it is a public utility and needs public investment to keep it functioning. We want Southern Water to hand over its operations to the government so that investment can be made to keep our rivers and seas safe.
“I will be presenting a motion to Maidstone Borough Council for us to increase our focus on holding Southern Water to account and to ensure that the council’s actions do not increase polution in our rivers.”
Notes:
1. EA Report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-and-sewerage-companies-in-england-environmental-performance-report-2021/water-and-sewerage-companies-in-england-environmental-performance-report-20212. Motion to Maidstone Borough Council on 20/7: https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/council-and-democracy/primary-areas/your-councillors?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbWVldGluZ3MubWFpZHN0b25lLmdvdi51ayUyRm1nQWkuYXNweCUzRklEJTNENDU1MTMmYWxsPTE%3D