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Call to speed up improvement work on polluted river

Martin HeathHertfordshire Political Reporter
News imageRyan Thwaites A large drainage pipe embedded in a concrete bank discharges murky water into a river or stream. The pipe opening is partially obscured by dense green foliage and overhanging tree branches. Fast-flowing water emerges from the outfall and mixes with the watercourse below. A mature tree trunk stands beside the pipe, and vegetation surrounds the scene, creating a shaded riverside setting.Ryan Thwaites
Dirty water was seen flowing from a pipe into the river earlier this month

An MP has called for improvement work on a river hit by pollution to be carried out as soon as possible.

Labour's Josh Dean said Thames Water had so far been unable to give a timescale for the project on the River Stort in Hertfordshire.

A foul-smelling liquid was seen flowing into the river from a pipe earlier this month.

Thames Water said it would be delivering a major upgrade to the wastewater network over the next five years.

Dean, who represents Hertford and Stortford, said he had asked for a meeting with Thames Water after the latest incident, but the company "chose not to engage with the process".

He said: "They finally got back to me when I wrote them a public letter saying that, effectively, I'd turn up at one of their sewage treatment sites expecting an explanation.

"Funnily enough we got a call back in about 90 minutes."

He added that Thames Water told him it would be carrying out an improvement programme but "they couldn't tell me when that would start, they couldn't even tell me when they might know what the start date is".

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Josh Dean wearing glasses, a grey T-shirt and a dark jacket stands in the foreground of a cleared riverside or construction area. Behind Dean are several large piles of gravel or excavated material, with mature trees lining the edge of the site. Residential buildings are visible in the distance on the left. The scene is brightly lit by sunshine under a blue sky with scattered white clouds. Part of a vehicle is visible in the bottom-right corner of the image.Martin Heath/BBC
Josh Dean said he had to threaten a personal visit to a sewage treatment site

Robin Merritt, club secretary of the Bishop's Stortford & District Angling Society, said the pollution incident had left "lots of dead fish along the river underneath the duckweed and all the way down to the next lock, which is about a mile".

He added: "Of course, all the invertebrates in the river that the fish feed on, they all die unfortunately and it does affect all the wildfowl that live on the river."

News imageMiriam Swainston speaking. She has shoulder-length hair and is standing in a graveyard
Miriam Swainston said the pollution to the river was concerning

Miriam Swainston, the Liberal Democrat leader of Bishop's Stortford Town Council, said: "Anecdotally, people have said that, after going in there, people have had stomach upsets and things.

"I've no proof that that's due to the sewage, but obviously it's a concern."

Swainston added the river was one of only seven chalk streams in East Hertfordshire and one of 210 across the world.

News imageJohn Smith/Geograph A calm stretch of river curves through a green, tree-lined landscape. Overhanging branches frame the view in the foreground, while reeds and other waterside vegetation grow along the riverbank. The still water reflects the surrounding trees and shrubs. The scene is brightly lit by daylight and has a peaceful, rural appearance.John Smith/Geograph
The River Stort is a rare chalk stream

A spokesperson for Thames Water told the BBC: "Over the next five years we will be delivering the largest upgrade to our wastewater network in 150 years.

"This investment will increase treatment capacity, reduce storm overflows and discharges, and deliver new nutrient reduction schemes to help improve river health."

The company added that chalk streams were "a rare and irreplaceable part of our national heritage and we are committed to playing our full part in their recovery".

News imageRyan Thwaites A close-up view of polluted water shows a thick layer of bright green algae or duckweed on the surface. A large patch of brown and white foamy substance spreads across the water, creating swirling patterns where it meets the green surface layer. Bubbles and froth are visible throughout the discoloured area. Ryan Thwaites
The incident caused serious discolouration of the river

Dean has called for the company to be brought into public ownership so control of pollution is not left to private firms.

But this is unlikely to happen soon, as both the Labour and Conservative parties favour tougher regulation of the industry, with fines for companies that damage the environment.

The Liberal Democrats want water companies to be jointly owned by customers, and the Green Party prefers bringing them into public ownership.

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