Thames water protest Wycombe

Campaigners staged a protest in High Wycombe on Wednesday over proposals they say could allow Thames Water to breach pollution rules for years to come.

Activists and residents gathered beside The Dyke in the Rye in the town centre to oppose a deal proposed by the company’s creditors that they say could allow sewage discharges outside legal limits for up to 14 years as part of financial restructuring talks.

The agreement had been expected to conclude at the end of 2025, but discussions are continuing.

They argue the proposal would amount to “pollution for profit” and are urging regulators and ministers not to approve it.

Sophie Conquest a lead campaigner at We Own It who organised the event said: “More than ever, the public are furious at a system which is willing to destroy lives in order to maximise profit; which treats our rivers and seas like open sewers; and at a regulatory system which has utterly failed.

“It’s time to channel that rage into what is unfolding – right now – with Thames Water”

Protestors gathered holding 14 giant inflatable poo emojis, each labelled with a year to represent 14 years of sewage pollution.

They also held a banner which says ‘NO to 14 years of illegal sewage. Emma Reynolds must say NO to Thames Water’.

Wycombe resident Eddie McDonnell said the situation was “outrageous” and that he hoped the protest would bring the issue to the forefront of people’s minds.

He said: “I am disgusted. I am a grandparent and I am worried about my grandchildren’s future.

“I was hoping Emma would be here, and a representative from Thames Water to answers questions.”

Liz Chisnall, from Wycombe Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s awful, we have 85 per cent of the global chalk streams but we don’t seem to prioritise that. Thames Water are a monopoly we don’t have any choice.”

Fellow member Richard Andrews added that action was needed urgently, saying: “Something needs to be done about it now. It’s affecting everything.”

Councillors Ed Gemmell, the independent councillor for Hazlemere and leader of the Climate Party, and Trevor Snaith, the independent councillor for Marsh and Micklefield, both spoke at the event.

Cllr Gemmell said: “Enough is Enough, in Wycombe we have seen pollution flowing into the Wye.

“And now we have these creditors some of the biggest most wealthy companies in the world who are saying they want to have an almost 15 year licence to pollute as much as they can in order to help the company.

“How does that help the people getting E.coli when they are swimming in rivers.”

Cllr Snaith added: “They are decanting quietly sewage into our rivers, they’ll deny it. We are getting tired of all these promises and excuses coming from these organisations.”

Protestors called on the Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds who is also the Wycombe MP not to sign off on the deal.

In response a Thames Water spokesperson said the first half of this financial year had seen a 20 per cent drop in pollutions and was shaped by “good progress.”

They said: “We remain focussed on working with London and Valley Water consortium and all stakeholders on a holistic market-led solution that is deliverable, benefits customers, the environment, taxpayers and the UK economy, and will return Thames Water to an investment grade credit rating.

“We know our infrastructure requires significant investment, and that is why we have launched our biggest upgrade to our network in over 150 years to improve our assets and consequently service to our customers and the environment.

“In the first six months of this financial year, we have increased capital investment by 22 per cent  to £1.3 billion compared with the same period last year.”

A Government spokesperson added: “The Government will always act in the national interest on these issues.

“The company remains financially stable, but we stand ready for all eventualities, including applying for a Special Administration Regime if that were to become necessary.”