Calls are mounting for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to urgently address the “broken” water industry after environmental data revealed thousands of hours of sewage spills into Cotswold rivers over the past year.
According to environmental charity the Rivers Trust, North Cotswold watercourses suffered at least 3,470 hours of sewage discharge during this period. Their data shows the Evenlode river at Moreton-in-Marsh was polluted for 1,143 hours, Broadwell saw 367 hours, the Coln at Andoversford had over 1,137 hours, the Windrush in Bourton-on-the-Water for more than 791 hours, and Northleach noted around 30 hours of spillage projected in 2025.
Liberal Democrat county councillor Paul Hodgkinson, representing Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach, is pressing PM Burnham to make a fundamental overhaul of the water industry a priority. Hodgkinson and his party demand placing water companies into special administration immediately, followed by transitioning them into public-benefit mutuals owned by customers—removing control from private and state hands and focusing on public health and environmental protection.
READ MORE: Call for Prime Minister to Commit Funding for Vital M5 Junction Upgrade
READ MORE: ‘Riveting’ Period Drama Filmed in Iconic Gloucestershire Location Is a Must-Watch
They also advocate forming a robust clean water authority empowered to enforce stringent environmental standards. Hodgkinson, joined recently by Lib Dem leader Ed Davey at Andoversford, condemned the ongoing sewage pollution amid rising water bills and corporate profits.
“For years, communities have watched our rivers like the Coln and Windrush be sullied by raw sewage, while foreign investors and executives reap billions in profits,” Hodgkinson declared. “It is a betrayal to see Thames Water report rising profits as our environment is destroyed and bills climb. Andy Burnham’s choice is stark: champion communities or allow this toxic system to continue. We must break free from the failed privatisation experiment, wipe out crippling debt, and return water infrastructure to those who rely on it.”
Conservative MP for North Cotswolds Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown highlighted nearly two decades of engagement with water companies on these issues, noting improvements such as flood prevention in Moreton-in-Marsh after 2007. He referenced the 2021 Environment Act, which mandated sewage output meters, and explained current regulatory frameworks including Ofwat’s Asset Management Plan cycles.
Clifton-Brown expressed skepticism over the Lib Dem mutual ownership plan’s practical details and cost implications. He noted Thames Water’s severe financial difficulties, including a £17 billion debt, and supported short-term administration to facilitate proper recapitalisation and improved service.
Meanwhile, Thames Water defended its environmental responsibility efforts, citing an 18% reduction in pollutions and a 27% decrease in serious pollution incidents in recent results. The company clarified that discharges occur through storm overflows designed to prevent sewage backflow into homes, not as dumping, and these discharges are heavily diluted.
Thames Water stressed ongoing investment in upgrades—the largest in 150 years, with £2.7 billion spent in 2025/26—and collaboration with stakeholders to secure financial stability and infrastructure improvement while serving 16 million customers.
The situation in the Cotswolds highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management reforms focused on environmental protection, community welfare, and transparent accountability.