Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, says the future of our rivers is at stake in parliament today

Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, Mark Lloyd, is urging all MPs to do their job as elected representatives in Parliament today, and support amendments that will enshrine the Water Restoration Fund in the Water (Special Measures) Bill.

“Parliament must seize the opportunity to restore our rivers to good health by amending the Water (Special Measures) Bill to protect the future of the Water Restoration Fund. That money, sourced through water company fines, is absolutely vital to enable nature recovery schemes but also to uphold the polluter pays principle. It will ensure that those who pollute our environment shoulder the burden of repairing the damage they have caused, rather than the taxpayer.

“In recent weeks, rumours that the Water Restoration Fund will be abandoned and the money swallowed up by the Treasury have troubled us deeply. This course of action would seriously – perhaps irreversibly – damage the chances of achieving our vision of wild, healthy, natural rivers, and would not be in accordance with one of the government’s key manifesto pledges and Defra’s top priority mission.

“I strongly urge all MPs to do their job as our elected representatives and support amendments that will enshrine the Water Restoration Fund in the Water (Special Measures) Bill, for the sake of our precious rivers and all those who enjoy them.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive

NEWS CATEGORIES

LATEST NEWS

South East Water requests referral of its Final Determination to the CMA

South East Water has announced today (18 February 2025) that it has asked Ofwat to refer its PR24 Final Determination to the Competition and...

ECITB Census reveals water sector employers expecting above average workforce increases compared to wider engineering construction sectors

Figures published today (18 February) by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board reveals that employers in the water sector are more optimistic than the...

Government says it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s review of the implementation of current Bathing Water Regulations in England

The Government has said it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) review of the implementation of the current Bathing Water Regulations in England....

New Chief Executive Officer appointed at UK Water Industry Research

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) has appointed Mike Rose as its new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. With a career including senior positions in...