The announcement by the federal government of an unbiased fee to have a look at the biggest evaluation of the water sector since privatisation has been welcomed by BSAC and companions within the Clear Water Sports activities Alliance.
The fee can have an unbiased chair, Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Financial institution of England. He might be supported by advisers with a spread of experience within the water sector, together with the atmosphere.
This new fee is a part of the brand new authorities’s dedication to scrub up the water companies trade and comes alongside the Water (Particular Measures) Invoice that’s at present being debated in parliament. The fee will report its findings again to the federal government subsequent yr. The fee will take skilled proof and there might be alternatives for public engagement and a public session.
It’s going to have a look at a spread of points that have to be addressed to repair the damaged water sector, together with: making certain the water trade delivers finest worth for atmosphere, public well being, shoppers, and the financial system; taking a strategic strategy to planning how we handle water air pollution and water provide at a catchment degree; guarantee water regulators are efficient in holding water corporations to account; and guarantee water corporations are financially and operational resilient with safe infrastructure that’s maintained over the long run.
In doing this, they are going to take account of the curiosity of shoppers, the general public, and people who benefit from the water atmosphere, to assist construct public belief in water corporations.
Whereas this fee is barely wanting on the water trade and its regulators, it’s important the federal government does two issues; firstly, it takes ahead the fee’s suggestions and secondly, it appears to be like throughout authorities in any respect the opposite pressures on our water atmosphere from agriculture, to highway run off, to how we are able to guarantee a revised planning system helps a wholesome atmosphere.
The federal government’s ambitions for development are welcome, however our water atmosphere should not be the worth that’s paid for that ambition.
Mary Tetley, BSAC CEO stated:
We’re delighted that the difficulty of water air pollution in our rivers and round our shores is being taken severely by authorities. As custodians of the ocean BSAC members inform us how essential the pure atmosphere is to them. With our companions within the Clear Water Sports activities Alliance BSAC will proceed to marketing campaign for change and accountability within the water sector, starting with the March for Clear Water on 3rd November.
BSAC and the Clear Water Sports activities Alliance
The Clear Water Sports activities Alliance represents 11 Nationwide Governing Our bodies of sport, to scrub up water within the UK. It represents 450,000 members, athletes and thousands and thousands of members and water customers who’re impacted every day by poor water high quality and air pollution. BSAC joined the Alliance in September 2024.
The Alliance was shortlisted for the Grassroots Sports activities Organisation of the 12 months as athletes and teams working arduous to enact and encourage change had been celebrated.
