41% rise on sewage discharged

New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that United Utilities, which covers Blackpool, discharged sewage a staggering 97,537 times last year, a 41% rise compared to in 2022. 

Manchester Square Ps and Lennox Gate Pumping Station have spilt together 105 times for 250 hours into the Irish Sea on Blackpool

Blackpool Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers/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 that would have helped to tackle the crisis, including Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Blackpool South, Andrew Cregan, said:

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

“Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer, yet time and again, this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping. 

"Here in Blackpool, the Liberal Democrats have been leading the way in holding water companies to account and have called for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers/beaches. We need to see a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways, and our local community is protected from this filth."

Liberal Democrat analysis of Environment Agency data can be found here.

Source (Environment Agency): https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/21e15f12-0df8-4bfc-b763-45226c16a8ac