MP says government has ‘pulled its punches’ on water reform for North Devon

North Devon’s MP has criticised the Government’s new Water White Paper, warning it fails to deliver the ‘fundamental change’ needed to protect the region’s rivers and coastline.

Ian Roome says hundreds of residents have emailed his office over the past year about sewage pollution, water quality and frustration at a system that ‘allows water companies to continue polluting while bills rise’.

The Liberal Democrats say figures show there were more than 3,600 sewage spills in North Devon in 2024, lasting a combined total of more than 37,000 hours, the equivalent of four years-plus of continuous discharge.

READ MORE: ‘Almost half’ of people won’t swim in the sea - MP condemns North Devon sewage spills

The Government says it is embarking on the biggest overhaul of private water companies in England and Wales since privatisation.

It says this will include inspections without notice, regular ‘MOT-style’ checks and compulsory water efficiency labels on appliances as it seeks to mount an overhaul of the water industry.

Ian Roome MP says hundreds of local residents have emailed his office over the past year about sewage pollution, water quality, and frustration at a system that allows water companies to continue polluting while bills rise.

Responding to the announcement, Mr Roome echoed the concerns of Lib Dem environment spokesperson Tim Farron, arguing the proposals pull their punches’ and do not go far enough to stop sewage dumping.

Mr Roome said: “People in North Devon are fed up with empty promises while our precious local environment is ravaged by corporate greed.

“I’ve been contacted by constituents who have had to forgo swimming, people whose businesses are being affected and surfers being advised not to enter the water - this cannot go on.

“The Government has pulled its punches and North Devon deserves better. We need a complete overhaul of how our waterways are regulated and run. Liberal Democrats are calling for a new ownership model where water companies are mutually owned by customers and professionally managed.

“The public are being kept in the dark about the true scale of the pollution in our rivers. We are calling on the Government to force water companies to record and publish the volume of sewage they dump - not just the duration of spills.

“We cannot bring an end to the sewage scandal without reliable data to hold water companies accountable.”

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