Thames Water fined £123m over sewage – but not £1 of it earmarked for clean-up
Thames Water fined £123m over sewage – but not £1 of it earmarked for clean-up
Posted by theipaper
Thames Water fined £123m over sewage – but not £1 of it earmarked for clean-up
Thames Water fined £123m over sewage – but not £1 of it earmarked for clean-up
Posted by theipaper
8 comments
Ministers have refused to commit to using the record £123m fine handed to [Thames Water](https://inews.co.uk/topic/thames-water?ico=in-line_link) to rid Britain’s rivers of sewage, sparking criticism from campaigners.
Environmental groups fear the millions will be “lost to the black hole of the Treasury” and urged the Government to use the money on restoring and protecting waterways.
On Wednesday, the regulator Ofwat hit [Thames Water](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/minister-thames-water-fails-3706056?ico=in-line_link) with two fines worth £123m for sewage spills and breaking rules around shareholder payments.
Amounting to 9 per cent of Thames Water’s annual turnover, it is the largest fine ever issued by Ofwat and will be payable to the Treasury.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the fine was part of the “toughest crackdown on water companies in history”.
However, he has so far resisted calls to use the funding for cleaning up rivers, despite a pledge from the previous Conservative government to ring-fence fines for this purpose.
In 2022, the Tories committed to using fines levied against water companies for nature restoration work, but Labour has failed to match the promise.
A grant programme called the [Water Restoration Fund](https://inews.co.uk/news/dozens-rivers-risk-treasury-seeks-keep-cash-sewage-cleanups-3499332?ico=in-line_link) was set up to use the fines for sewage clean-ups, but grants were repeatedly delayed under both Governments.
Nationalise these jokers asap, it’s only going to get worse. Bunch of shockers
Their customers bills are going up to pay for this then. Nationalise
Damn shame that the money won’t go where it is needed.
C’est la vie.
Anyone fed up of our ruling class yet? No. OK.
Sold off to Middle Eastern conglomerates years ago. The fine is pennies to them compared with the cost to fix.
Fines are simply an income for treasury.
Jail the ringleaders, seize the company, re-nationalise
Repeat
What would be the point? They are being fined for sewage in rivers giving them the money back to clean up with would be a joke.
Just keep fining for not doing what their customers are paying for. Fine them into bankruptcy.
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