MP urges ministers to take action on sewage scandal unfolding in Cumbria’s lakes and rivers

In Parliament this afternoon, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron pushed Government ministers to force water companies to invest their profits into stopping sewage being dumped into Cumbria's lakes and rivers.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on sewage discharges, Tim said: "In Windermere, there was 71 days last year where sewage was discharged.

"112 days in Coniston where sewage was discharged legally.

"The River Eden in Kirkby Stephen - 2,500 hours sewage discharged legally.

"In Morecambe Bay - 35,000 hours of sewage discharged legally.

"So the option here is obvious and that is to force the water companies to invest their profits - not over a 20 year period, but to do it now - to make sure that the water in the rivers and the lakes of the Lake District, the Dales and the rest of the country are not polluted by sewage.

"We must ensure that the environmental risk, the public health risk, the risk to animal welfare and to our economy is not allowed to continue.

"The Government have the power to force these water companies to take the action that they should do.

"We know that the water companies have the money to do it. Why is the Government not forcing them to do it now?"