Pippa Heylings, Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire, called for an immediate ban on executive bonuses at Anglian Water after it was announced today that the company would have to pay back £38.1 million due to poor performance.
It comes as the new government’s Water Bill is set to be debated in Parliament.
Liberal Democrats claim the bill is only a “half-measure” and will table an amendment that would enforce an immediate ban on water company bosses’ bonuses.
The South Cambs MP call for bonuses to be banned for Anglian Water follows a new Ofwat report
The party has previously revealed that there were 827 sewage spills in South Cambridgeshire last year. This is the most recent data available and uses the old constituency boundaries.
MP Pippa Heylings says residents in South Cambridgeshire have very real concerns about sewage in many local rivers and chalk streams. Her comments come after a visit to the River Mel and ahead of a Parliamentary debate.Ms Heylings said that the steps by the regulator announced today needed to be a “watershed” moment for Anglian Water and that it was “high time” action was taken on these polluting firms.
She said: “During the General Election, I heard repeatedly from people worried about pollution in our rivers and chalk streams.
“It’s clear that the Conservatives allowed water companies to ride roughshod over people here in South Cambridgeshire for far too long. They have been pumping filthy sewage into our waterways while their bosses take home massive bonuses.
“That must end. No longer can polluting companies be rewarded for failing to protect our local environment all whilst hiking bills on people in our area.”
The MP added: “Disappointingly, the new government’s bill is only a half-measure and nowhere near tough enough on these polluting firms.
“That is why I am proud to support the Liberal Democrats amendment to the bill, which would ban water company bosses’ bonuses until leaks are fixed and sewage spills end.
“Only then will we start to get a fair deal for people here in South Cambridgeshire.”
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FACT FILE:
The amount each water company has been ordered to pay back to customers can be found here.
Data on sewage dumping last year can be found here.
