Ahead of the Water (Special Measures) Bill reaching the Report stage in the House of Commons tomorrow, the Rivers Trust is calling on Parliament to restore our rivers to good health by amending the Water (Special Measures) Bill to protect the future of the Water Restoration Fund.
The first sitting of the Public Bill Committee to begin line-by-line consideration of the Water (Special Measures) Bill took place on 9th January.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Rivers Trust said:
“Tomorrow, Parliament must seize the opportunity to restore our rivers to good health by amending the Water (Special Measures) Bill to protect the future of the Water Restoration Fund.
“That money, sourced through water company fines, is absolutely vital to enable nature recovery schemes but also to uphold the polluter pays principle. It will ensure that those who pollute our environment shoulder the burden of repairing the damage they have caused, rather than the taxpayer.
“In recent weeks, rumours that the Water Restoration Fund will be abandoned and the money swallowed up by the Treasury have troubled us deeply. This course of action would seriously – perhaps irreversibly – damage the chances of achieving our vision of wild, healthy, natural rivers, and would not be in accordance with one of the government’s key manifesto pledges and Defra’s top priority mission.”
“I strongly urge all MPs to do their job as our elected representatives and support amendments that will enshrine the Water Restoration Fund in the Water (Special Measures) Bill, for the sake of our precious rivers and all those who enjoy them.”
The Rivers Trust is the umbrella body for the Rivers Trust network of over 60 local Trusts in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
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