Pop star turned environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey on Tuesday slammed the Government’s new clean water strategy as “muddled” and accused it of recycling a proposed ban on plastic in wet wipes.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey unveiled the strategy at the Wetlands Centre in Barnes, west London.
But it came under fire from Sharkey after details of the blueprint were briefed out in advance.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If I was being kind I would suggest that it is one of the most muddled, confused bit of strategy and policy I have seen in some time.
“The wet wipes announcement has actually been made three times in the last five years, nothing happened.
“The supposed £1.6 billion investment, does that supercede the £3.1 billion investment announced last August, does that supercede the £2.7 billion before that, and the £12 billion before that?”
Environment Department sources said the £1.6 billion was in addition to the previous funding announcements and listed a series of policies to clean up rivers and waterways.
In its Plan for Water, the Government wants to see more investment from water companies, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement for those who pollute.
It also includes a consultation on a ban of plastic in wet wipes and restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam, textiles, cleaning products, paints and varnishes.
Ms Coffey stressed that water companies could face unlimited penalties for dumping sewage under the strategy which aims to unleash a “truly national effort to protect and improve” the nation’s waterways.
The fines would be reinvested into a new Water Restoration Fund which the Government said would support local groups and community-led schemes to clean up waterways.
The Environment Department said it has asked water companies to speed up investment in infrastructure to prevent sewage discharges, reduce nutrient pollution and improve the water supply’s resilience to drought.
Regulator Ofwat is considering approving 31 schemes worth £1.6 billion and is accepting comments from the public until April 24.
Other proposals include giving farmers £34 million to tackle pollution from slurry as well as £10 million to fund more on-farm reservoirs and better irrigation equipment.
The Government also wants to encourage water companies to install more smart meters in households to reduce water demand and help rare chalk stream habitats with a £1 million fund.
