186% increase in hours of sewage dumped by Wessex Water last year 

New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Wessex Water that covers Weston-super-Mare discharged sewage into our waterways for a staggering 372,341 hours last year, a 186% on 2022. 

Weston-super-Mare Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers and beaches, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including MP for Weston-super-Mare, John Penrose.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Weston-super-Mare, Patrick Keating said:

“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Weston and North Somerset’s rivers and waterways. 

“It’s beggars belief that Conservative MPs have allowed water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism. Local people are furious that Conservative politicians blocked tougher action on these disgraced firms.

"The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers/beaches including replacing OfWat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms. We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways."