River Pollution concerns
In England, water companies have pumped raw sewage into waterways 772,000 times in the last two years. The one thousand discharges a day is entirely legal in extreme weather events.
In the past such events were relatively rare. With the weather changing, local torrential downpours occur more and more frequently, leading to flooding and storm water overflows.
In 2020 and 2021, Severn Trent Water dumped raw sewage into rivers and becks 12,000 times. During that time water companies made a staggering £2.7 billion in operating profits with executives receiving £27.6 million in bumper bonuses, benefits and incentives.
In Parliament, Liberal Democrats have introduced a Sewage Discharge Bill. This would set mandatory targets and timescale for ending sewage discharges into rivers, becks and coastal waters. Since the Government has repeatedly promised to take action,will it support the Bill?
National Chair of the Green Liberal Democrats, Keith Melton, who lives locally, has called for legislation which requires Water companies to invest much more to combat raw sewage overflows. Keith added that "Water Company profits need to be invested in community protection, rather than given away as bonuses to Managers and Directors"
River Greet Pollution
Meanwhile, close to home, it seems that we have the same problem as many other locations in the country when it comes to river and watercourse pollution. The River Greet and other local streams have experienced numerous occasions during the last two years when raw sewage entered the watercourse and on more than 100 occasions there has been a discharge from the Sewage Works near the Racecourse.
There is an ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency so anyone noticing future discharges in their area can report this.
Please help to get this stopped: Ring 0800 783 4444 with the date, time and place that you notice the pollution.
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023