Bucks MPs Welcome £63m Penalty for Anglian Water Over Sewage Breaches

Local Members of Parliament Callum Anderson, Emma Reynolds, and Laura Kyrke-Smith have hailed the £63 million penalty issued to Anglian Water for excessive sewage discharges as a "long-overdue signal" that water companies must be held accountable for environmental harm.

Anglian Water cover North Aylesbury Vale.

The punishment follows an investigation by Ofwat, the industry regulator, which uncovered serious operational failures at Anglian Water, including poorly managed wastewater infrastructure and significant oversight lapses at the senior management and board levels.

“This fine against Anglian Water must mark a new era of transparency,” said Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley). “For too long, water companies have put profits before people and the environment. I’ll be meeting with Anglian representatives to discuss ongoing infrastructure issues, including the recent water shortage in Winslow and surrounding villages. I will do all I can to hold them accountable.”

Of the £63 million, £5.8 million will be allocated to a new community fund aimed at supporting local projects focused on restoring and protecting the water environment. The remainder will be invested in upgrading stormwater systems across at least eight catchment areas, with the goal of significantly reducing sewage spills and bolstering the network’s resilience to heavy rainfall.

The move comes just months after Thames Water was hit with a record £122.7 million fine in May for widespread sewage pollution. MPs described the twin penalties as a “turning point in the fight for clean water.”

Emma Reynolds MP (Wycombe) said the fines were “justified and necessary,” adding: “Buckinghamshire has been let down time and again by a failure to invest in infrastructure and prevent sewage overflows. Water companies need to understand that this kind of environmental harm is not just unacceptable – it is punishable.”

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury) echoed the sentiment, noting: “Communities across Buckinghamshire have had enough of sewage in their waterways. This action marks an important step toward rebuilding public trust and protecting our local environment. Anglian Water and Thames Water must clean up their act.”

The MPs also expressed strong support for new national measures introduced by the Labour government to toughen oversight of the water industry. These include reforms to how companies are regulated, a ban on bonuses for underperforming executives, and a pledge to eliminate sewage spills entirely within the next decade.

The Labour government's sweeping new measures to tighten oversight of the water industry have been met with praise from many MPs, but not everyone is convinced. While the reforms — including tougher regulation, a ban on bonuses for underperforming executives, and a pledge to eliminate sewage spills within the next decade — have been hailed as bold, critics warn they may be more ambitious than achievable.

Some environmental campaigners and policy analysts have voiced skepticism about the government’s timeline. Others question whether the measures go far enough. 

Industry leaders have also expressed concern that the reforms could have unintended consequences. 

There are also political undertones to the debate. Opponents argue the government may be using the water issue to score early points in the new parliamentary term. 

Despite the criticism, the government insists its plan is both realistic and necessary. Environment Secretary Samira Khan defended the initiative, calling it “a decisive step toward rebuilding public trust and protecting our rivers and coasts for future generations.”