Wokingham’s Liberal Democrat MP, Clive Jones, has voted in Parliament to introduce a new ‘blue flag’ status for rivers and chalk streams.
Labour and Conservative MPs both failed to vote for the motion.
The Lib Dem motion would have created a new Blue Flag status for rivers and chalk streams with measures to guarantee the river clean and safe to swim in.
This forms part of the Party’s ‘blue corridor’ programme to clean up waterways which will mean year-round water monitoring, and regular biodiversity assessments.
The Government’s own data has revealed that over 3.6 million hours of sewage was pumped into waterways in 2024.
Data from The Rivers Trust has shown that a sewer storm overflow spilled 53 times for a total of 522.25 hours into the Barkham Brook, Arborfield.
And in Wargrave, there was sewage discharge into the River Loddon from the Wastewater Treatment Works.
A YouGov poll revealed that the Liberal Democrats policy on blue flag status for rivers was the most popular policy at the last general election amongst voters.
Commenting, Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham said: “It is a scandal that water companies have been allowed to blight beautiful rivers and waterways across Berkshire with filthy pollution. For too long, water companies – aided and abetted by a lax regulator and a negligent Conservative Party – have polluted our rivers whilst charging customers more and more for the privilege.
“It is Parliament’s duty to enact change and clean up our waterways. So it’s hugely disappointing that Labour and Conservative MPs have failed to back a new Blue Flag status for rivers and chalk streams that would help to guarantee that right to enjoy clean rivers which are safe.
“Liberal Democrats will keep standing up for swimmers, for our wildlife and for bill payers – holding water companies to account for their environmental vandalism.”
