The Crown actor James Murray has blasted eco-agencies over Britain’s sewage scandal.
It comes as Environment Agency data published on Wednesday showed there were 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023, compared with 1.8 million in the previous 12 months.
Water companies discharge waste into rivers and the sea when sewers are overwhelmed by rainwater, with overflows acting as relief valves when the weather in the UK is particularly bad.
However, it has been reported that companies have been using the rivers for waste routinely, polluting the water with sewage when the weather is dry.
Crown actor James Murray said the government bodies “are woefully failing in their duty”
GB News
Speaking to GB News, the well-known actor and water campaigner said: “Everybody knows now because it’s so topical and has been in the news fantastically for the past few years.
“The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the government bodies are woefully failing in their duty to us and to the environment. It has massive impacts on wildlife.”
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Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce were raging over the sewage scandal
GB News
“It has an impact on the endangered Atlantic salmon, which is a passion of mine, all flora and fauna, and a plethora of wild animals that that need to thrive off a healthy river are being hugely compromised.
“Sadly, the system isn’t fit for purpose, as the water companies will be the first to tell you. They haven’t been regulated for so long we are where we’re at now. It’s an acute situation.”
GB News host Bev Turner asked: “Are there too many agencies that don’t work together? You mentioned the Environment Agency there. Who else is partly responsible? And is it when there are so many agencies, is it just too easy to blame each other?”
He explained: “That’s exactly right. But you got Defra just off the top of my head. You got Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs), Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority), Natural England, the Environment Agency, all these stupid bodies set up to talk to each other about what they want.
“In the meantime Rome burns, fiddling as to who deserves what from the water companies. Which regulations are the most important? Which should get priority?
“The whole system is as creaky as the infrastructure it’s set up to regulate and govern. And it needs absolutely stripping down to the core and starting again.”
Rivers have been affected by sewage pollution
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Rivers up and down the country are affected by sewage pollution.
Campaigners are hoping to seize on public anger to turn it into an election issue, and force water companies to clean up their act.
Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, said it was ‘unacceptable’ but the record levels were due to heavy rain.
These spills are not illegal but environmentalists say they should only happen in exceptional weather.
The Environment Agency said: “It is important to note that heavy rainfall does not affect water companies’ responsibility to manage storm overflows in line with legal requirements.”
Source Agencies
