Water bosses should face ‘absolute accountability’ for dumping sewage in places like the River Mersey in south Manchester, including being sent to jail, a team of Greater Manchester MPs have suggested. Labour’s environment and rural affairs secretary, Jim McMahon, is backing the campaign to clean up the UK’s waterways.
It comes as shadow transport secretary Mike Kane, and shadow culture and tourism secretary, Jeff Smith, launched a scathing attack on the privatised water sector over volume of raw sewage dumped in rivers, lakes and the sea. Councillor Sarah Haughey, who represents Trafford’s Longford ward, said she regularly walks her dog along the banks of the Mersey.
“It is often covered in human waste. When the river has been high you can see sanitary towels, toilet roll, baby wipes and human faeces along the bank, and it stinks. It’s awful.”
