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Month: October 2024

Historic March for Clean Water: 130+ leading nature, environmental and water sports organisations urge Keir Starmer’s Government to end water pollution 

Posted on by lewis

London rally on Sunday 3 November to Save Britain’s polluted waterways

More than 130 of the UK’s most prominent environment, nature, fishing, water sports and community organisations, representing 10.1 million supporters, will flood the streets of central London on November 3 for the March for Clean Water. The coalition calls on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to end the pollution of Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas, or face the consequences of broken promises.

Nationwide demand for clean water

Environmental advocates, community leaders, and citizens from across the UK will march to call an end to the pollution caused by multiple sources, including water companies and intensive agriculture. Their asks of the new government  are: 

1) stop pollution for profit;

2) reform our failed environmental regulators and; 

3) enforce the laws that exist to deter and punish illegal pollution.

Marchers will wear blue, symbolising the call for clean water

Campaigners remain deeply concerned that despite multiple commitments made during the recent General Election campaign to take resolute action to address the issue, they do not go nearly far enough to address the root causes of water pollution. 

Most significantly, the measures that have been published in the Government’s planned Water (Special Measures) Bill do not address the chronic failure of regulation in recent years, whereby environmental laws and regulations have failed to be enforced by environmental protection agencies, allowing polluters to regularly break the law and poison our water bodies with impunity.

Meanwhile, while last week’s announcement by the Government of an independent Water Commission is a welcome step, it must ensure that the needs of the environment are fully considered and not sidelined by an apparent prioritisation of promoting economic growth. It must also address other major sources of pollution such as agriculture, which so far are conspicuous by their absence in the Commission’s terms of reference.

Join the fight against water pollution

Untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and corporate negligence have pushed the UK’s rivers, seas, and lakes to ecological breaking point. The November 3 march represents a critical moment in the urgent quest for environmental justice, with families, activists, and communities demanding immediate government action to stop the rampant poisoning of Britain’s waterways.

Key speakers and performers 

The march will feature voices from across the UK, including naturalist Chris Packham, broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman, Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant, nature presenter and President of the Wildlife Trusts Liz Bonnin, bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, and actor-musician Johnny Flynn, known most recently for his role in Ripley on Netflix. 

Eleven-year-old Benjamin Fallow will address the crowd, representing the next generation’s call for urgent action on the water crisis. Alongside them stand grassroots environmental groups, anglers, swimmers, surfers, rowers, and a diverse array of clean water lovers, as well as water industry workers represented by the GMB Union (the biggest union in the water industry) disillusioned by the failure of their employers to manage the water industry responsibly.

Powerful symbols on the day

The march will feature striking visuals, including:

  • Poly the Whale, Truth About Plastic’s 7x2m sculpture made entirely from plastic waste collected from rivers and oceans, will be on display. Weighing 130kgs – the estimated amount of plastic that pollutes the ocean every second – Poly is a powerful reminder of the growing plastic crisis.
  • A 3m tall Goddess of the River Wye, evoking the spirit of the iconic river and the ecosystems at risk.
  • At least 40 Extinction Rebellion drummers will energise and the inspire marchers. Participants are also invited to bring to London samples of water from their rivers, lakes and beaches – which will all be combined into a single vessel before being symbolically returned to the River Thames at the end of the march on the outgoing tide.


Voices of protest

Leading voices from the coalition urge the government to act:

Broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman said, “I’m 63 and have never been on a protest before. This is my first ever march. That is how much the disgraceful privatised abuse of our water system matters to me. I can’t wait to add my voice to thousands on the day and share Carol’s Poolution by Numbers!”


Comedian and angler Paul Whitehouse, star of BBC’s hit-show Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer, said, “Who likes dirty rivers? Not I. Lots of people love to use the rivers, waterways, and they’re under threat from agricultural pollution and from the water companies. So, there is a march taking place on Sunday, third of November – come and join.”

Star of The Crown on Netflix, Jim Murray, actor and activist angler, said, “The endangered Atlantic salmon is the pulse of our rivers and oceans, we must save the UK’s ‘black rhino’ from extinction.”

British businesswoman and star of Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden said, “As a business leader deeply committed to sustainable investing and a passionate advocate for nature, it is clear that we must protect our precious waterways from pollution. No business should be allowed to profit at the expense of our rivers, seas, and lakes. It’s time for our elected leaders to take decisive action and restore our waterways to full health.”

Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “The strength of public feeling is crystal clear, unlike our polluted rivers and waterways. An urgent, comprehensive and properly resourced response is long overdue.”

Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said, “Water is life. It’s fundamental to our health, our happiness, our heritage. But our rivers and waterways are in crisis.  The public are outraged and want to see solutions.”

“Now’s the time for all leaders across all industries – from business to agriculture and of course politics – to step up their game and prove we can turn the tide on our polluted water. Sunday’s march is a crucial moment for change.”

Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said: “The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on Sunday 3 November.

“We are a movement of women long known and respected for challenging the status quo and fighting for justice time and again. We are no strangers to campaigning to clean and protect our waterways – and the March for Clean Water is another chance to show our strength. We must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action from the Government to deliver lasting solutions, and clean up our waters for people, wildlife and the environment.”

Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Polluted rivers are wounds in our landscape. They ought to be the lifeblood of UK ecosystems, nourishing communities and wildlife. Instead, they channel sewage, agricultural runoff and toxic chemicals through the countryside and cities to the sea. Healing rivers restores nature and builds a stronger society. That’s why so many people are gathering in support of tough action to make polluters pay, to stop pollution from every source, and to demand the urgent investment needed to clean up UK waters.”

Jamie Cook, CEO of Angling Trust said, “For over 75 years anglers have fought against pollution, this government must finally end the water pollution crisis before it’s too late.”

Hugo Tagholm, ocean activist and Executive Director of Oceana UK said, “Water companies have mismanaged their way to creating one of the greatest environmental stinks the UK has ever suffered. The sewage scandal has destroyed rivers, beaches, wildlife & livelihoods. Why give them a stay of execution with a review of the industry? Why not enforce the law in place to hold them to account, right now?” 

Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said, “Water privatisation has been a disaster for everyone; sewage dumped in our beautiful waterways, billions of gallons lost to leaks every day and zero investment. Meanwhile fat cat directors and shareholders trouser millions of pounds. Water workers and bill payers are marching together to demand better.”

Giles Bristow, chief executive, Surfers Against Sewage said, “We’re marching because we’re sick of surfing in shit, it’s that simple. No more cover-ups, no more excuses, no more delays, we are here to reclaim our rivers, lakes and seas from the profiteering fat cats of the water industry and to demand an end to sewage pollution, for good. Keir Starmer, the pollution that stains the dirty money of the industry is a stain on the government too – we demand radical reform and you must deliver.”

Charles Watson, Chair of River Action, the organiser of the March for Clean Water, celebrated the diverse and inclusive nature of the March. He said, “This movement is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Families, communities, and organisations from across the UK are rising in outrage at the state of our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government’s first 100 days in power are up. The time for excuses is over. We’re here to hold the government accountable to the election promises previously made and make sure they deliver on them to clean up our long-suffering waterways for once and for all.”

This is not just a protest – it’s a movement

The March for Clean Water is a call to action for millions of people who care about the future of Britain’s waters. Join us on Sunday 3 November, wear blue, flood the streets and make your voice heard.

NOTES TO EDITOR

The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3 November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.

More than 130 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion, WWF, GMB Union, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Rivers Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Save Windermere, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids. 

River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.

Estimated number of supporters per organisation in the March for Clean Water coalition:

  • Bat Conservation Trust: 5,600
  • Blue Tits: 100,000
  • British Scuba: 28,000
  • Butterfly Conservation: 40,000
  • Clean Water Alliance: 450,000
  • CPRE: 40,000
  • Friends of the Earth UK: 250,000
  • Freshwater Biological Association: 1,200
  • GMB Union: 560,000
  • Greenpeace UK: 184,000
  • Green Alliance: Approx. 126
  • Mammal Society: 2,000
  • National Trust: 5,400,000
  • Plantlife: 17,000
  • Rewilding Britain: 900
  • RSPB: 1,200,000
  • Surfers Against Sewage: 150,000
  • Soil Association: 75,000
  • Sustain: 5,000
  • Wildlife Trusts: 870,000
  • Women’s Institute: 180,000
  • Woodland Trust: 500,000
  • WWF UK: 100,000

Total supporters: 10,158,826

Up to their necks in it: River Action unveils provocative ‘Pooster’ to expose water companies profiting while poisoning our water

Posted on by lewis

Revealed: A new billboard made of £50 notes, stained brown with sewage  waste, symbolises the dirty profits of water companies, while separately exposing that Thames Water has dumped sewage into the Thames for 7,002 hours since January 2024.

Today, River Action, organising the November 3rd March for Clean Water, is launching a bold new advertising billboard in central London that highlights the shocking reality of water companies making billions while polluting the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas.

Dubbed the ‘Pooster,’ the 48 sheet (3m high x 6m wide) billboard, is constructed from fake £50 notes, stained brown with sterilised manure and mixed with water from polluted beaches, rivers and streams across the UK, symbolising the dirtied profits that water companies continue to make at the expense of our environment. The ‘Pooster’ displays a bold caption: “This money is stained with crap, just like water company profits’.

This striking visual dirty protest comes as part of River Action’s wider campaign against water pollution and will be officially launched with a crowd of wild swimmers fed up with dirty money making water dirty at 10am on Monday 21 October ahead of the March for Clean Water, set to take place in central London on November 3rd. The billboard displayed at the junction of Harleyford Road and South Lambeth Road close to Vauxhall Station is a high-traffic area of central London to draw maximum attention to the issue.

The ‘Pooster’ exposes the uncomfortable truth: despite dividend payouts to shareholders totalling £72.9 billion over the last 33 years and excessive levels of executive pay and bonuses, water companies across the UK are failing to protect our waterways.

River Action reveals extent of Thames Water discharges

Today River Action can reveal that since January 1 2024, Thames Water, the ‘pooster’ child of the nation’s broken water and sewage system, alone has discharged at least 7,002 hours of untreated human sewage into the River Thames, equal to 291 days. A large number of these discharges are believed to have been unlawful. The shocking findings from River Action’s research come at a time when Thames Water is facing financial collapse having paid out billions to shareholders and unknown amounts of interest on its escalating debts since privatisation – at the expense of future-proofing its crumbling infrastructure.

Meanwhile, as river users and wildlife suffer the consequences of poisoned water, Thames Water has continued to award failure with CEO compensation packages reaching up to £1.71 million last year alone.

“Up to their necks in it” –  River Action’s campaigns manager Amy Fairman  

Head of Campaigns at River Action Amy Fairman said, “Water companies like Thames Water are up to their necks in it, treating our rivers, seas and lakes like open sewers. Meanwhile they squander bill payers cash with impunity, splashing it on shareholder dividends, bonuses for their bosses and paying huge levels of interest on their junk-rated  debt.

“Our ‘Pooster’ drives home the point: the financial gains they make are filthy money. It’s time for change. The UK public is fed up with sewage-drenched waterways and our campaign demands urgent reform.”

Laura Reineke from the Henley Mermaids is attending the Pooster launch with her fellow wild swimmers, in bathing costumes and hats.  She said, “Our beautiful river Thames is being used as an open sewer, the epically mismanaged monopoly that is Thames Water is in charge of our precious blue space.  This has to change! We are fed up with swimming in poo. Freshwater species are declining at a rate of five times that of species that live on land, our biodiversity needs rescuing. Our river is visibly poorly, choking in chemical’s and suffocating in poo. This assault on our wildlife and our health has to stop, water should be run for the benefit of humans and the wildlife that calls it home.”

March for Clean Water, Sunday 3rd November

With public outrage at an all-time high, River Action’s billboard exposes the urgent need for reform in the water industry.

The campaign builds momentum ahead of the March for Clean Water, where thousands of people, alongside more than 100 organisations as diverse as the Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion and the National Trust, will demand action from the government against water polluters. Marchers are encouraged to wear blue, symbolising their fight for clean water.

River Action and a coalition of 100s of campaign groups want to see the robust enforcement of existing environmental laws with hefty fines for illegal pollution, the end of pollution for profit with no more excessive shareholder dividends and executive pay and the resourcing   and reforming the environmental regulators so they can do their job, putting public benefit before facilitating private greed.

Download a hi-res ‘Pooster’ image here.

ENDS

Notes to editor
Global, Media & Entertainment Group provided the billboard space and creative agency Uncharted developed the creative concept.

For safety reasons, unlike the carelessness of the water companies, the ‘Pooster’ was made using sterilised waste diluted with water collected from rivers, beaches, and streams across the UK.

The source for the figure of 7,002 hours of discharges by Thames Water (taken from Faringdon in Oxfordshire to Dartford in Kent) so far in 2024 was calculated on 15/10/2024 using this: https://www.sewagemap.co.uk/ 

The source for the £72.9 billion in dividends is here: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/47165/ 

The source for the figure on CEO compensation at Thames Water is here: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/media-library/home/about-us/investors/our-results/2024-reports/thames-water-annual-report-2023-24.pdf 

River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.

The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3rd November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.

To date, more than 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, Women’s Institute, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Clean Ilkley River Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.

Major legal challenge goes to court to stop expansion of intensive poultry industry in River Severn Catchment 

Posted on by lewis
The River Severn, Shropshire. © Getty Images

River Action board member Alison Caffyn has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge Shropshire Council’s approval of a large-scale poultry production unit in the River Severn catchment.

The judicial review aims to halt the further spread of industrial scale intensive poultry production both in the county and the wider catchment of the River Severn.   

The legal action is part of a wider campaign by River Action to use the law to prevent river pollution by intensive agricultural practices across the country.   

River Action says the Wye catchment area has been devastated by the failure to enforce anti-pollution regulations and it is determined to help prevent similar ecological damage to the neighbouring catchment of the River Severn.

The action is being taken by Dr Alison Caffyn, who lives in Shropshire and is a member of River Action’s advisory board. Dr Caffyn is represented by the environment team at law firm Leigh Day.   

In May, Shropshire Council approved an application by LJ Cooke & Son for a poultry production unit at Felton Butler, north-west of Shrewsbury.

The unit would house 230,000 birds, with Dr Caffyn arguing it is imperative to prevent “giant clusters of polluting poultry units” from being built.   

An application was made for a judicial review into the council’s decision, arguing the council failed to take a number of issues into account, including the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass.

The High Court has now granted permission on the following grounds:

  • A failure to assess the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass, which as indirect effects of the development, needed to be assessed  
  • A failure to impose a lawful planning condition on manure processing that would mean that the development would not cause groundwater pollution 

River Action plans to appeal the High Court’s decision not to allow the judicial review action also to be argued on the following grounds:

  • A failure to carry out a lawful appropriate assessment as required by the Habitats Regulations to ensure that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of a designated protected site  
  • A breach of regulation 9(3) of the Habitats Regulations, which requires the council to take steps to avoid the deterioration of habitats at protected sites 

Dr Caffyn and River Action say they consider Ground 3 the most important issue. It specifically concerns the potential for the development to adversely impact the integrity of designated protected sites, including Hencott Pool and Fenemere. The failure to properly assess these risks could lead to further deterioration of ecologically sensitive areas. 

Charles Watson, Chairman and Founder of River Action said:

“Like an appalling car crash in slow motion, exactly the same set of tragic events is now unfolding in catchment of the River Severn as has happened recently in the neighbouring catchment of the River Wye. By recklessly waiving through permission for ever more giant intensive poultry units, Shropshire County Council is effectively pronouncing the death sentence on yet another iconic British river. The construction of these giant unsustainable pollution clusters, with no due consideration being given of their cumulative environmental impact, cannot be allowed to continue. We look forward to supporting this critical legal action through its next phase as it goes to court.”

 Dr Alison Caffyn said:

“Shropshire Council has continued to grant planning permission for intensive poultry units across the county, despite increasing concern about the impacts on the Shropshire countryside and communities. The chicken population has grown so much that there are now nearly 65 chickens for every person in Shropshire.  And it appears that the Council has not been properly assessing the impacts of all that extra manure and ammonia emissions on our rivers and special habitats. We need them to stop allowing ever more levels of unsustainable industrial agriculture in Shropshire.”

 Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama, said:   

“The court’s decision to grant permission on two grounds is a crucial first step. However, the fact that permission was refused on Ground 3, which addresses the most pressing concern around protected sites, only strengthens our client’s resolve to see this fully challenged. 

“So far, the approach adopted has allowed industrial concentrations of poultry and livestock to be reared in highly sensitive countryside locations, with devastating impacts on local ecosystems. Our client hopes that this legal challenge will set a strong precedent for local authorities nationwide, urging them to reassess the cumulative environmental impacts of developments like these. It’s clear there needs to be a complete rethink of how such planning decisions are made, especially where protected sites are at risk.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

For more information contact Leigh Day press office at pressoffice@leighday.co.uk or call Maxine Wolstenholme on 07775713725.

River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Its campaigns to date have focused on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.

River Action is co-convenor of the March for Clean Water on Sunday 3 November.

The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.

Milestone achieved: 100th organisation signs up for the March for Clean Water in London on November 3rd

Posted on by lewis

In a powerful show of public outrage over the state of the UK’s waterways, convenors of the March for Clean Water have announced that the 100th organisation has officially pledged to join the rally, set for Sunday 3rd November in central London.

Mental Health Swims, the coalition’s 100th member, joins a diverse array of organisations – both large and small – from across the UK. Other organisations to recently sign up to join the March include smaller groups like The Blue Tits, The Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth, East Kent Climate Action, the Outdoor Swimming Society, alongside larger organisations such as the National Trust, Greenpeace, RSPB, British Rowing and Wildlife Trusts. 

Charles Watson, River Action’s chair and founder and co-convenor of the march, said, “This landmark achievement highlights the immense momentum, public anger, and frustration fuelling the march. Environmental charities, anglers, wild swimmers, members of the legal profession and high-profile campaigners such as Chris Packham, Paul Whitehouse, Jo Brand and Liz Bonnin are coming together to amplify the urgent call for action from Sir Keir Starmer’s government to put an end to the poisoning of our rivers, seas and lakes.”

Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”

Rachel Ashe (MBE), Managing Director & Founder of Mental Health Swims, said, “Mental Health Swims is proud to be part of the coalition for the March for Clean Water. Due to the water quality issues throughout the UK, we are having to cancel some of our mental health peer support swim groups to ensure that participants and volunteers do not get sick. It’s really disheartening for our volunteers and participants who have worked hard to build a support group in their local community that comes together over a love of outdoor swimming. We want to see the new government taking action to address the water pollution crisis.”

The March for Clean Water promises to be a vibrant, family-friendly demonstration that sends a clear message: the public will no longer tolerate politicians who talk tough on water pollution but fail to take meaningful action against human sewage and agricultural runoff in our rivers, seas, and lakes. Visit: marchforcleanwater.org

ENDS

Notes to editors
Last week the March for Clean Water was rescheduled for Sunday 3rd November after the announcement of a far-right rally outside Downing Street on 26th October and the calling of left-wing counter protests.

The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.

To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.

River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.