Leaders at Shire Hall are urging the government to bring Thames Water and the broader UK water industry under public ownership. As the country’s largest water provider, Thames Water serves thousands of Gloucestershire households but is currently burdened with billions in debt, facing public outrage over pollution, and suffering from chronic underinvestment.
County Councillors warn that any restructuring of Thames Water will affect millions through higher bills, environmental degradation, and inadequate preparation for climate change impacts. Yet crucial decisions are being made behind closed doors, excluding consumers, workers, and environmental advocates from the conversation.
Green group leader Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton), who introduced a motion highlighting the issues, emphasized that the English model of water privatization is unusual internationally. Many experts assert that Thames Water could be nationalised at minimal cost, contradicting the government’s position, which relies heavily on industry-commissioned reports. Turner noted, “Infrastructure in parts of the county is creaking while bills continue to climb.”
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In the context of climate change, Turner stressed water conservation is vital, yet Thames Water lost 200 billion litres through leaks last year alone — nearly a quarter of its supply. She highlighted ongoing sewage pollution problems, mentioning Moreton-in-Marsh as having the highest “forever chemical” contamination levels in the UK.
“Water is a fundamental human right respected globally,” Turner said. “It shouldn’t be this way. But ministers are relying on advice from the very companies profiting from the status quo. Independent studies indicate that public ownership is achievable at minimal cost.”
A University of Greenwich report supports this, indicating that bringing English and Welsh water systems back into public hands could save £3 billion to £5 billion annually in financing expenses. “Water is too important to remain in private hands,” Turner asserted.
She concluded, “Nationalisation is the only viable path to end the unlawful dumping of raw sewage, stop rewarding shareholders despite failures, and channel all profits back into fixing leaks and future-proofing infrastructure.”
Liberal Democrat Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-Water with Northleach), an outspoken critic on water issues in the Cotswolds, called privatisation “a disaster” for clean water and for Gloucestershire residents. “Please support this motion,” he urged.
Conservative Tom Bradley (Campden-Vale), while critical of Thames Water’s shortcomings, defended the privatization model more broadly. “The independent network model is working well in new developments—it offers cheaper bills and better environmental outcomes,” he explained.
The council voted to approve the motion, with Liberal Democrat, Green Party, and Labour councillors supporting it, while Reform UK and Conservative members abstained.
The authority plans to urge Environment Minister Steve Reed and Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider Thames Water’s ownership under independent, unbiased research rather than industry-funded reports. They also call on the government to use existing powers to reform water company governance, ensuring transparency and accountability by adopting models from cities like Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm—where boards are elected by workers, consumers, and local councils.
If ownership changes proceed, the council requests the formation of a coalition—including regional government representatives, trade unions, citizen groups, and environmental organizations—to scrutinize bidders and demand a transparent, democratic process.