River Severn ‘third most polluted by sewage dumps’
The disgusting claim has been made by one of the candidates running for the Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr seat at the next General Election later this year.
Cllr Glyn Preston said that he remembers swimming in the river close to his Llandinam home as a youngster without any worry, and has called for blue flag status to be introduced.
“I grew up in Llandinam swimming in the Severn and now represent Llanidloes near the source of the River,” said Cllr Preston.
“I know just how much the future of the River Severn means to my community and to those across the entire constituency and I don’t want to see future generations deprived of the same opportunities I had.”
The Liberal Democrat candidate believes the issue is a vote winner and has turned on his political rivals – the Labour Government in Wales and Conservative Government in London – as “utterly failing” to take the issue seriously.
“Our natural environment is so important here in Mid Wales, not just because of the extraordinary wildlife that can be found, but also because the tourist industry is a massive part of the local economy,” he said.
“We urgently need a new Blue Flag status to protect our rivers, an end to excessive bonuses and more punitive fines for water companies that continue to pump their filthy sewage into them.”
What the Lib Dems have revealed:
According to the Lib Dems, last year sewage was dumped into the River Severn for over 30,000 hours with an astonishing 3,057 spills in total. This makes it the third worst-hit river in England and Wales after the River Calder and River Avon.
Across the UK, sewage was dumped into England and Wales’ rivers for 4.5 million hours last year, with 559,546 sewage spills in total. This is equivalent to an average of over 1,500 sewage dumps into rivers every single day.
The Geberal Election candidates so far (in no particular order):
Plaid Cymru: Elwyn Vaughan
Labour: Steve Witherden
Liberal Democrats: Glyn Preston
Reform UK: Oliver Lewis
Conservatives: Craig Williams
Green Party: Jeremy Brignell-Thorp
PICTURE: The 'filthy' River Severn floods every year at spots like the bridge at Llandrinio.
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