Environment Bill Amendments
A vote was held in the Commons on 20 Oct 2021 to amend the Environment Bill which had proposed to clamp down on water companies pumping raw sewage into our rivers and seas. The proposal from the House of Lords to place legal duties on the companies discharging was defeated 265 votes to 204.
Our MP for Hertford and Stortford, Julie Marson, voted to allow water companies to continue unabated to pollute our waterways with unacceptable levels of sewage.
The vote has drawn attention to the practice of discharging raw sewage into our water system, which should be protected for nature, wildlife, drinking, swimming and other healthy leisure pursuits. Untreated sewage can produce harmful effects on human and animal health.
See Julie Marson MP’s response to voting down the bill amendment here.
You can also see DEFRA’s response to the debate here.
For background, Surfers Against Sewage are one of the most passionate groups campaigning to ensure that the Environment Bill forces water companies to stop discharging raw sewage and to #EndSewagePollution.
If you would like to write to your MP, ahead of the next vote, to ask that companies polluting your local rivers and beaches are held accountable, you can find a suggested template here. Please amend and personalise as required.
Sample Letter to Your MP
For the Attention of: Julie Marson MP
By Post: GF04 Harlow Enterprise Hub, Kao Hockham Building, Edinburgh Way, Harlow. Essex. CM20 2NQ
By Email: julie.marson.mp@parliament.uk
[DATE]
Dear Julie,
I am writing to ask you to represent me and others in your constituency by reconsidering your position on the Environment Bill so that the people of Hertford and Stortford have safe water, and our local wildlife, biodiversity and fragile ecosystems are protected from raw sewage.
When the Environment Bill returns to the Commons, I would urge you to vote in favour of Amendment #45 in full, not omitting lines 7-14 as Commons Amendment #45A proposes.
I am a constituent of yours, living in [Hertford, Ware, Bishops Stortford] within the landlocked county of Hertfordshire. Our local rivers and streams are important to us. [Refer to a local River… e.g. The four rivers (Lee, Beane, Mimram and Rib) that flow through our county town of Hertford are its lifeblood. The River Stort provides our county boundary and winds unaltered by human intervention. The Ash chalkstream flows through our rural landscape to the beautiful Amwell Nature Reserve]. [Give example of why the local Rivers are important… e.g. I enjoy walking my dog along the river. I run alongside our waterways. I enjoy wild swimming in summer. Our canoe club enjoys using the river. I am a birdwatcher and enjoy seeing the wealth of species in the local area. I live on a boat on the river].
I know you care deeply about the environment. And while I thank you for your explanation of your reasoning behind voting against this amendment, I respectfully disagree and feel that stronger restrictions must be placed on water companies. It is not the job of bill payers to bail out private companies who have historically underinvested in their infrastructure. A sound plan is needed going forward to make sure that our waterways are safe for all and protected for the future. This Amendment will go a long way towards that.
Your sincerely,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS IN CONSTITUENCY]