Sewage strains relations between UK and France

Relations have been strained between the United Kingdom and France.

Challenges on processing passports and goods at crossing points to creating a common response to the sickening refugee trafficking trade have not helped.

This lack of common ground is profoundly unhelpful.

Our two countries share much including energy and long coastlines, in some cases only a few miles apart.

So, news that our water companies are dumping raw sewage into the Channel where tides carry it into important shared fishing, shellfish and bathing waters has created a real stink in France as well as here.

Serious, health and ‘keep out of the water warnings’ are on many of our own beaches.

Last year alone raw sewage was dumped 29,000 times for a staggering 207,013 hours.

This year we are seeing it happen at the height of our own summer holidays, hitting our seaside businesses hard. It is poisoning not only our waters and the creatures that live in them, but our relationship with France.

Elected French politicians have condemned the impact of our dumped sewage on their coastal waters and the livelihoods that it supports from the sea and on the land.

Investigations by Lib Dem former Leader, Tim Farron MP have revealed large numbers of water company monitors meant to report sewage dumping either do not work or were never installed.

It is depressing to reflect that when PM hopeful, Liz Truss presided over the Environment Agency raw sewage discharges actually doubled.

Meanwhile, last year saw water company bosses enjoy 20 per cent pay increases.

The water industry regulator, Ofwat must act and act fast.

They must punish severely the water companies that are failing to clean up their act.

Our rivers, coastlines, sea food, seafront and waterside businesses and the important Anglo-French ‘Entente Cordial’ require nothing less.

Will a future PM Truss be up to this job if she is selected?

Her past performance is not promising.

Dr Brian Mathew

Lib Dem North Wiltshire Parliamentary Spokesperson

Partnership failing

To understand the problem of policing today you only have to read the piece from Adver journalist Daniel Wood (SA, August 24). Wiltshire Police is joining a national project to strengthen its approach to tackling serious sexual offences. It involves police forces working with academics and developing themes such as 'suspect focused investigations'.

According to Wiltshire Police they have been working with two neighbouring forces and the CPS for the past 18 months to improve their approach in the area of sexual offences. Sadly the Inspectorates recent report that Wiltshire was 'failing victims' would suggest that the partnership has achieved very little.

Des Morgan

Caraway Drive