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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Jordan Reynolds

Danny Dyer, Dani and Becky Hill appear together at stop the sewage protest

Rivals star Danny Dyer, his daughter Dani, and pop singer Becky Hill have joined a demonstration calling for the water industry to be returned to public control.

The "stop the sewage" rally took place in Leysdown-on-Sea, Kent, on Sunday, alongside a petition gathering more than 315,000 signatures in support of public ownership.

Dani, a former Love Island winner, briefly stepped away from her Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal schedule to attend the protest.

On Saturday’s launch episode, she was reunited with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, after an injury previously forced her to pull out from last year’s series alongside him.

Danny Dyer (left) and Dani Dyer with campaigners at the protest in Leysdown-on-Sea
Danny Dyer (left) and Dani Dyer with campaigners at the protest in Leysdown-on-Sea

Ed Acteson, co-founder of SOS Whitstable and creator of the petition, said: “The public has had enough of being asked to accept polluted waterways, failing infrastructure and rising bills while shareholders and senior executives continue to be rewarded.

“Water is an essential public service, not a vehicle for private profit.”

He added: “We want an industry run in the interests of people and the environment, with its income reinvested in the system rather than extracted from it.”

Singer Becky Hill speaks to campaigners
Singer Becky Hill speaks to campaigners

Cliff Roney, a GMB activist who has worked in the water industry for more than 40 years, said: “I have seen this industry at its very best and now at its very worst.

“Infrastructure is falling to pieces, there has been a lack of maintenance and investment, no reservoirs are being built, and staff are on their knees trying to keep the system running.

“If the industry is not brought back into public ownership quickly, we are heading towards a national catastrophe.”

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