Danny Chambers Fights for Cleaner Rivers with New Blue Flag Status
Winchester’s Liberal Democrat MP, Danny Chambers, has voted in Parliament to introduce a new ‘blue flag’ status for rivers and chalk streams.
Labour and Conservative MPs failed to vote for the motion, blocking it
The Lib Dem motion would have created a new Blue Flag status for rivers and chalk streams with measures to guarantee the river clean and safe to swim in. This forms part of the Party’s ‘blue corridor’ programme to clean up our waterways.
To qualify for blue flag status, an area must meet a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria. This would include:
- year-round quality water monitoring
- regular biodiversity assessments
- robust legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumps
- a whole catchment approach to prevent dumps up or downstream of the Blue Flag
- the appointment of a local community group to represent the river and lead on community engagement
Commenting, Danny Chambers MP said:
“It is a scandal that water companies have been allowed to blight beautiful rivers like the Itchen with filthy pollution. For too long, water companies like Southern Water – aided and abetted by a lax regulator and a negligent Conservative Party – have polluted our rivers whilst charging customers more and more for the privilege.
“It is in Parliament’s gift to enact change and clean up our waterways and everyone should have the right to enjoy clean rivers which are safe. So it’s hugely disappointing that Labour and Conservative MPs have failed to back a new Blue Flag status for rivers and chalk streams that would help to guarantee that right.
“Liberal Democrats will keep standing up for swimmers, for our wildlife and for bill payers - holding water companies to account for their environmental vandalism.”