'Clean up Our River' petition launched for Severn in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury residents are urged to back campaign after January floods brought Severn sewage issue onto our streets. After January flooding brought sewage and dumping issues in the River Severn onto
Shrewsbury’s footpaths and parks, local Liberal Democrat councillors are petitioningto make water companies clean up their act.

The newly-launched petition calls for the introduction of a Sewage Tax on water company profits to fund local and regional efforts to improve water quality. Severn Trent made pre-tax profits of £270 million last year. At the same time as this, human excrement was being found on the well-used Pig’s Trough footpath in Coton Hill and in other areas impacted by now annualised flooding.

Local MP candidate Alex Wagner said: “The loop of the river defines Shrewsbury as a town. We should be able to take pride in the fact we have such great heritage and communities right here on the banks of the Severn. Sadly, our river hasn’t been a source of civic pride for some time now. In fact, the results of water quality testing show a shameful lack of care for our natural environment. This has to change, and policy has to move with haste. It is not good enough to say the job is too big or too expensive when human excrement and sewage is seeping into our town every day. For residents of theTown Centre, Coton Hill and Coleham in particular, this is a very real and increasingly disgusting issue to have to deal with.

I’ve launched a campaign alongside Liberal Democrat colleagues to make water companies pay their fair share and clean up their act. Severn Trent made enormous profits last year and no doubt will this year - the government needs to make this money fund the clean-up of the River Severn and to let us be proud of our loop again, not another foreign holiday or sports car for Severn Trent shareholders.”