John Whittingdale defends vote against Environment Bill amendment

MPs have faced backlash after voting against amending a bill to stop water companies dumping raw sewage into Britain’s rivers and seas.

Only 22 Conservatives rebelled against the Government by voting for an amendment to the Environment Bill, which would have forced a legal duty upon water companies not to pump sewage into waters.

Maldon's John Whittingdale was among the MPs who voted against the amendment to the bill.

He said many of his constituents had written to him last week and while the Conservative MP agrees the amount of sewage released into waters is "unacceptable", he said he could not have voted in favour of the amendment.

New map by the Rivers Trust shows raw sewage is being emptied into rivers in Maldon and parts of the Dengie

Mr Whittingdale said: "Despite what you may have read, it is categorically not the case that I voted to allow water companies to pollute our rivers at will.

"However, the consequences of the amendment, while well intentioned, would have been vast.

"Initial assessments suggest that total elimination of discharges from storm overflows would cost anywhere between £150 billion and £650 billion.

"This process could involve the complete separation of sewerage systems, leading to potentially significant disruption for homes, businesses and infrastructure across the country.

"It could bankrupt our water companies, and cost UK taxpayers anywhere between £5000 and £20,000 per household, something that I could not support.

"The vast majority of my constituents, even if they support improved environmental standards, simply could not afford this."

Read more: New map shows raw sewage is being emptied into rivers across Essex

Instead the Maldon MP says he voted to strengthen the Environment Bill to place a "new duty" on water companies to "progressively reduce the adverse impacts of storm overflow discharges".

One of the requirements in the new bill include the need for Government to produce a report setting out the actions needed to eliminate discharges from storm overflows in England, and the costs and benefits of those actions.

Both publications are required before September 1 next year.

It also includes a new duty directly on water companies to produce Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis - with the Environment Agency - and near real time information on the operation of storm overflows, and to monitor the water quality upstream and downstream of storm overflows and sewage disposal works.

The new bill will also create a power of direction for the Government to direct water companies in relation to the actions in Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, and a new duty on Government to produce a statutory plan to reduce discharges from storm overflows.

He added: "Let me be clear, I want sewage discharge to stop. I believe that the measures in the Bill will lead to the best way of achieving this at an affordable cost."