Tories accused of 'hollow' promises on sewage as damage to UK beaches comes to light

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Rishi Sunak's government is rolling out a new clean water plan with the promise of tougher regulations and tougher enforcement for those who pollute rivers, lakes and beaches.

But Tory ministers have been accused of 'taking the public for fools' by offering only 'hollow' promises to tackle the growing scandal of wastewater in Britain. sewage - said more than £1.6bn of investment to improve water quality would be advanced.

Plan includes consultation on banning plastic in wipes and restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles, cleaners, paints and varnishes.

But the Labor Party has said the "bogus" plan to water was “a rehash of old failed measures that simply give the green light for sewage dumping to continue for decades to come.”

And the Liberal Democrats accused the Tories of “talking all about it and do nothing" – pointing out that a proposal to ban plastic in wet wipes was first announced in 2018.

It turns out that water companies in England dumped sewage on England's 'blue flag' beaches - those deemed safe and environmentally friendly - 1,504 times last year.

The figures, based on analysis of Lib Dem from the Environment Agency's latest data shows the worst affected Blue Flag beach was Blackpool Sands in Devon, where sewage was spilled 63 times last year. to take meaningful action against polluters, despite having been in office for six months.

"Britain's beaches are being ruined by profiteering water companies who get away with dumping sewage when the government has failed to act for years," he said.

Ms Coffey promised the money from the 'higher penalties' would be plowed back into a new fund water restoration to clean waterways. The government plans to lift the £250,000 cap on fines for water companies that discharge sewage into rivers and the sea.

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