MPs call for faster action on Water Pollution following Clean Water Sports Alliance drop-in
The drop in session brought together Parliamentarians and representatives of the Clean Water Sports Alliance
On Tuesday 24 February, the Clean Water Sports Alliance (CWSA) hosted a parliamentary drop-in session to look ahead to the Water Reform Bill and examine the key issues raised in the White Paper for recreational water users and public health. The drop in session brought together Parliamentarians and representatives of the CWSA (including British Rowing, Paddle UK, Swim England, RYA and British Triathlon) to discuss the Water Reform White Paper.
The MPs who attended were:
- Sir Roger Gale, Conservative (Herne Bay and Sandwich)
- Louie French, Conservative (Old Bexley and Sidcup)
- Joy Morrissey, Conservative (Beaconsfield)
- Mark Garnier, Conservative (Wyre Forest)
- Fleur Anderson, Labour (Putney)
- Matt Western, Labour (Warwick and Leamington)
- Jayne Kirkham MP, Labour (Truro and Falmouth)
- Liz Twist, Labour (Blaydon and Consett)
- Ruth Cadbury, Labour (Brentford and Isleworth)
- James Naish, Labour (Rushcliffe)
- Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrats (Epsom and Ewell)
- Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrats (Taunton and Wellington)
- Steve Darling, Liberal Democrats (Torbay)
The CWSA has set out suggestions the Government can take to improve the White Paper, including:
- A clear public health objective covering recreational water risks, not just drinking water
- Publish accessible monitoring and compliance data to enable informed decisions about water activities
- Strengthen existing targets through regulatory consolidation, including public health, and increase long-term funding and enforcement
- Ensure independent regional water planning incorporates public health, and increase long-term funding and enforcement
- Upgrade wastewater treatment in high-use recreational areas
- Shift from a narrow bathing waters framework to a recreation waters approach encompassing all inland and coastal water users
Rachel Dulai, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead said: “British Rowing was delighted to welcome so many MPs representing rowing club boroughs at the MP drop in session yesterday regarding the Water Reform White Paper. Working with our Clean Water Sports Alliance colleagues, this was an opportunity to try to ensure that the recreational sector has a voice whilst details that will shape the Water Reform Bill are being drafted. This is a once in a lifetime chance to help protect our waters and we will continue this dialogue with MPs in the coming months”.
