By New petition asks council to ‘play its part’ to stop sewage pollution
A new petition has been launched calling on North East Lincolnshire Council to act and ‘play its part’ in stopping sewage pollution from being dumped into local rivers and beaches.
The Grimsby and Cleethorpes Liberal Democrats created the petition after recent reports of raw sewage being dumped into the river Humber, subsequently affecting the water quality of Cleethorpes beach.
This year the resort lost its Blue Flag status due to the reduction in water quality.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Nicola Aisthorpe said, “Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats do have a plan to support our rivers on a local level. “Although the sewage crisis is a national issue that is affecting many areas, North East Lincolnshire Council still has a certain level of power and influence that should be used, particularly to help prevent adding to the problem any further with future developments. This includes strategic planning and working more closely with Anglian Water. The Liberal Democrats will not stand by and allow the continuing pollution of our precious rivers”.
According to The River Trust, raw sewage was dumped into the River Humber over 311 times from North East Lincolnshire alone (a total of 1021 hours), in particular from East Marsh, Immingham and Cleethorpes. In Humberston last year, untreated sewage was released into Bucks Beck, 57 times.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Lynsey McLean said, “It is disappointing that the Conservatives seem unwilling to lift a finger on this vital issue at a local level, and Labour clearly have no clue. We need urgent action now, before it is too late to reverse the damage!”
The aims of the petition include:
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Ensuring the Council’s ‘Natural Assets Plan’ and the ‘Local Plan’ supports river and coastal recovery.
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Embedding river recovery in all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to decisions by the Council (particularly in planning, regeneration and economic policy).
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Creating an online portal on the Council website to update the public on the river and coastal recovery process.
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Writing to Anglian Water to request details of their plans to eradicate the practice of untreated sewage discharge to local rivers and coastal waters.
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Working where possible with Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, Grimsby and Cleethorpes MPs, Coastal Partnerships, and other agencies, to combat threats to the quality of water in our local rivers and coastal waters.
