EXCLUSIVE:
New Tory environment chief Steve Barclay is married to exec of sewage-dumping water firm
Steve Barclay, who became Environment Secretary in Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle, is married to one of the bosses of Anglian Water, which has been rapped for sewage spills
Steve Barclay is tasked with tackling the sewage crisis
By John Stevens
Paul de Zylva of Friends of the Earth said: "Steve Barclay is picking up a brief that has been neglected throughout the majority of his party's time in office - there is a lot of lost time to make up for. Given the dire state of nature in the UK, he must start by urgently addressing the poor performances of polluting water companies and the regulator Ofwat.”
Rebecca Newsom of Greenpeace UK said: "At the last election, the Conservative party was promising “the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth. Now the in-tray for the incoming Environment Secretary is filling up faster than a river downstream from a sewage plant."
A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs spokesman said: “All Defra Ministers declare their interests in line with the Ministerial Code. There is an established regime in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest."
Projects to remove chemicals from rivers underway
26th November 2023,
Lilly-Mae Messenger
New Tory environment chief Steve Barclay is married to exec of sewage-dumping water firm
Steve Barclay, who became Environment Secretary in Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle, is married to one of the bosses of Anglian Water, which has been rapped for sewage spills
Steve Barclay is tasked with tackling the sewage crisis
By John Stevens
Political Editor
THE MIRROR
14 Nov 2023
The Tory put in charge of tackling the sewage crisis is married to the executive of a water firm shamed for polluting the sea.
Steve Barclay was appointed Environment Secretary in the reshuffle after being moved from his old job as Health Secretary.
The Cabinet minister’s wife Karen works for Anglian Water, which has been criticised for pumping sewage into the environment. Mrs Barclay, who was Head of Public Affairs for the water firm, now works as its Head of Regional Engagement.
Anglian Water has apologised for repeated sewage spillages as public anger grows over pollution in seas and rivers. In April, pleaded guilty to allowing 7.5million litres - the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools - of untreated sewage to overflow into the North Sea.
It was fined £2.7million, the largest ever penalty imposed for environmental offences in the east of England region. The judge said the scale of the fine related to the water company "finding itself in court so frequently".
In June, an advertising campaign by Anglian Water boasting how it cleans water by creating wildlife-friendly wetlands was banned for not telling customers about its record. The watchdog upheld complaints that the adverts were misleading as they omitted “significant information” on “Anglian Water’s history of releasing sewage into the environment”.
Mr Barclay disclosed his wife’s job on the most recent List of Ministers’ Interests, which was published in April. His entry stated: “The minister’s spouse/partner works for Anglian Water.” He replaces Therese Coffey who resigned as Environment Secretary at the reshuffle. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the veteran minister said that it was "now the right time to step back from government".
The Tory put in charge of tackling the sewage crisis is married to the executive of a water firm shamed for polluting the sea.
Steve Barclay was appointed Environment Secretary in the reshuffle after being moved from his old job as Health Secretary.
The Cabinet minister’s wife Karen works for Anglian Water, which has been criticised for pumping sewage into the environment. Mrs Barclay, who was Head of Public Affairs for the water firm, now works as its Head of Regional Engagement.
Anglian Water has apologised for repeated sewage spillages as public anger grows over pollution in seas and rivers. In April, pleaded guilty to allowing 7.5million litres - the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools - of untreated sewage to overflow into the North Sea.
It was fined £2.7million, the largest ever penalty imposed for environmental offences in the east of England region. The judge said the scale of the fine related to the water company "finding itself in court so frequently".
In June, an advertising campaign by Anglian Water boasting how it cleans water by creating wildlife-friendly wetlands was banned for not telling customers about its record. The watchdog upheld complaints that the adverts were misleading as they omitted “significant information” on “Anglian Water’s history of releasing sewage into the environment”.
Mr Barclay disclosed his wife’s job on the most recent List of Ministers’ Interests, which was published in April. His entry stated: “The minister’s spouse/partner works for Anglian Water.” He replaces Therese Coffey who resigned as Environment Secretary at the reshuffle. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the veteran minister said that it was "now the right time to step back from government".
Paul de Zylva of Friends of the Earth said: "Steve Barclay is picking up a brief that has been neglected throughout the majority of his party's time in office - there is a lot of lost time to make up for. Given the dire state of nature in the UK, he must start by urgently addressing the poor performances of polluting water companies and the regulator Ofwat.”
Rebecca Newsom of Greenpeace UK said: "At the last election, the Conservative party was promising “the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth. Now the in-tray for the incoming Environment Secretary is filling up faster than a river downstream from a sewage plant."
A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs spokesman said: “All Defra Ministers declare their interests in line with the Ministerial Code. There is an established regime in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest."
Projects to remove chemicals from rivers underway
26th November 2023,
Lilly-Mae Messenger
BBC News
Four projects to upgrade water recycling centres and help remove chemicals from rivers have been started.
Wessex Water are spending £18m on projects in Somerset to extract household chemicals from rivers that can cause an overgrowth of algae which harms the environment.
The company is spending £7.5m in Martock, £4.5m in Crewkerne, £1m in Merriott and £5m in Somerton.
Rachel Weston, project manager for the Martock and Crewkerne sites, said the increase of chemicals into watercourses are "one of the main challenges" that the water company is facing.
She said: “The impact of nutrients on rivers and other watercourses is one of the main challenges we’re tackling within many areas of Somerset and by investing heavily in our sites, we’re fully stepping up to tackle this issue."
Chemicals like phosphorous and ammonia, which are found in household products, end up in septic tanks and farm slurries.
They can run into rivers and cause an overgrowth of algae which damages other plants and animals.
Ms Weston added: “By upgrading our water recycling centres, enhancing the processes within them, we can ensure we not only meet our water industry obligations but are also meeting the challenges resulting from an expanding population.
“These projects will help us protect the environment around the county’s many watercourses, including the River Parrett, and ensure that treated wastewater we return to the environment is of the highest quality.’’
Work at all four sites got under way this autumn and is expected to continue for around a year.
Four projects to upgrade water recycling centres and help remove chemicals from rivers have been started.
Wessex Water are spending £18m on projects in Somerset to extract household chemicals from rivers that can cause an overgrowth of algae which harms the environment.
The company is spending £7.5m in Martock, £4.5m in Crewkerne, £1m in Merriott and £5m in Somerton.
Rachel Weston, project manager for the Martock and Crewkerne sites, said the increase of chemicals into watercourses are "one of the main challenges" that the water company is facing.
She said: “The impact of nutrients on rivers and other watercourses is one of the main challenges we’re tackling within many areas of Somerset and by investing heavily in our sites, we’re fully stepping up to tackle this issue."
Chemicals like phosphorous and ammonia, which are found in household products, end up in septic tanks and farm slurries.
They can run into rivers and cause an overgrowth of algae which damages other plants and animals.
Ms Weston added: “By upgrading our water recycling centres, enhancing the processes within them, we can ensure we not only meet our water industry obligations but are also meeting the challenges resulting from an expanding population.
“These projects will help us protect the environment around the county’s many watercourses, including the River Parrett, and ensure that treated wastewater we return to the environment is of the highest quality.’’
Work at all four sites got under way this autumn and is expected to continue for around a year.
Swimmers protest sewage alerts in Cornwall
The work is in addition to projects being carried out by Wessex Water on the River Parrett and in North Petherton.
The water company has proposed a commitment of more than £900m towards stripping out chemicals from wastewater as part of around £3.5 billion of new investment between 2025 and 2030.
BBC
26th November 2023
A protest has taken place on Portreath Beach in Cornwall as locals say there have been sewage alerts for 26 consecutive days.
Swimmers said they had not been able to enter the water there, and that South West Water (SWW) had not given them any explanation.
Campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) said multiple sewage alerts had also been flagged at Porthtowan, St Agnes, Godrevy and Gwithian recently.
SWW declined to comment.
James Luxton, from SAS, said it was "appalling" sewage was being released on consecutive days.
He said: "That should only happen in exceptional circumstances when the rain is such and [sewage systems] cannot handle it.
"But, quite clearly, the system cannot handle it day-by-day right now."
Tina Dennett, from Portreath & Porthtowan Bluetits swimming group, said if it was "something really simple, like a stuck valve, then they need to take action".
He said: "If it is something more serious and we have had 26 days continuously of overspill here, then something drastic needs to be done about it.
"It's shameful - shame on you South West Water."
26th November 2023
A protest has taken place on Portreath Beach in Cornwall as locals say there have been sewage alerts for 26 consecutive days.
Swimmers said they had not been able to enter the water there, and that South West Water (SWW) had not given them any explanation.
Campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) said multiple sewage alerts had also been flagged at Porthtowan, St Agnes, Godrevy and Gwithian recently.
SWW declined to comment.
James Luxton, from SAS, said it was "appalling" sewage was being released on consecutive days.
He said: "That should only happen in exceptional circumstances when the rain is such and [sewage systems] cannot handle it.
"But, quite clearly, the system cannot handle it day-by-day right now."
Tina Dennett, from Portreath & Porthtowan Bluetits swimming group, said if it was "something really simple, like a stuck valve, then they need to take action".
He said: "If it is something more serious and we have had 26 days continuously of overspill here, then something drastic needs to be done about it.
"It's shameful - shame on you South West Water."
Alison King said people should not have to worry about sewage spills
Sea swimmer Alison King said people and animals should not be swimming in sewage.
She said: "We want to come to a local beach and be able to swim at a local beach.
"I love animals as well and birds, and I don't think they should be swimming in all our all our rubbish."
Sea swimmer Alison King said people and animals should not be swimming in sewage.
She said: "We want to come to a local beach and be able to swim at a local beach.
"I love animals as well and birds, and I don't think they should be swimming in all our all our rubbish."
The work is in addition to projects being carried out by Wessex Water on the River Parrett and in North Petherton.
The water company has proposed a commitment of more than £900m towards stripping out chemicals from wastewater as part of around £3.5 billion of new investment between 2025 and 2030.
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