Lib Dems demand action on 'sewage scandal' as thousands of hours of pollution hit South Cambridgeshire rivers

Liberal Democrats in South Cambridgeshire are calling for a crackdown on sewage pollution, as water companies and the Government fail local communities, with thousands of hours of sewage discharges continuing to blight the district's rivers.

At tomorrow’s (Thursday 16 July 2026) meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Liberal Democrat councillors will put forward a motion condemning the continuing pollution of local waterways and calling for stronger powers to hold water companies to account.

The motion highlights that Anglian Water recorded 16,779 sewage discharges in 2025, lasting a combined 101,598 hours. Of those, more than 3,500 hours of sewage discharges took place in waterways across South Cambridgeshire.

The Liberal Democrats say the figures demonstrate the urgent need for stronger regulation, tougher enforcement and long-overdue investment in the region's ageing sewerage infrastructure.

The motion also points to the importance of protecting South Cambridgeshire's internationally significant chalk streams, including the River Cam, River Granta and River Mel, alongside the River Great Ouse, warning that these rare habitats cannot continue to absorb years of pollution.

If approved, the Council will write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs demanding tougher action against sewage dumping, including replacing Ofwat with a stronger regulator, increasing environmental enforcement and giving regulators greater powers to prosecute offenders. The Council will also write directly to Anglian Water demanding urgent action to reduce sewage discharges at known problem locations including Haslingfield, Foxton and Whaddon.

Cllr William Scantlebury (Liberal Democrat, Bar Hill ward), who is proposing the motion, said:
"For years, water companies have put profits ahead of our rivers while communities have been left to live with the consequences. The fact that sewage is still being discharged into some of our most precious waterways on this scale is nothing short of a national scandal.
"South Cambridgeshire is home to some of the world's rarest chalk streams. These internationally important habitats should be protected, not treated as open sewers.
"Residents rightly expect better. They should not have to accept polluted rivers while seeing their water bills rise year after year. It's time for Government and water companies to stop making excuses and start delivering the investment and enforcement our environment desperately needs."

Cllr Adam Bostanci (Liberal Democrat, Bassingbourn ward), who is seconding the motion, and chairs the Council’s Climate Change and Environment Advisory Committee said:
"People are paying more for their water while watching the quality of our rivers deteriorate. That simply isn't acceptable.
"Water companies have had years to put their house in order. Stronger regulation, tougher penalties and greater transparency are needed to ensure they finally deliver the improvements local communities have been promised.”

Cllr Laurence Damary-Homan (Liberal Democrat, Harston and Comberton ward), the Council's Lead Cabinet Member for Environment, added:
"Our rivers are at the heart of South Cambridgeshire's natural environment, yet they continue to suffer from repeated sewage discharges and pollution.
"The Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned for cleaner rivers and stronger environmental protections because we believe clean waterways should be the norm, not the exception.
"Water companies must invest properly in the infrastructure they have neglected for decades, and the Government must give regulators the powers and resources they need to enforce the law. Local people are fed up with seeing sewage dumped into our rivers while bills continue to rise."

The Liberal Democrat motion comes as public concern over river pollution continues to grow, with campaign groups across Cambridgeshire calling for stronger action to protect local waterways and restore the health of England's rivers.

Backing the call for action, South Cambridgeshire MP, Pippa Heylings concluded:
“South Cambridgeshire’s precious chalk streams are not just nationally but internationally significant habitats. The government has a responsibility to protect and restore them - and finally bringing a stop to the scandal of sewage dumping is an essential part of that.
The Liberal Democrats are leading the fight against the sewage scandal. We’re standing up for nature, for our rivers, for our chalk streams and for every single person who deserves clean water.”