Smart calls out Government after Stockport sewage investigation

A targeted investigation into sewage dumping in the River Tame and River Goyt by one of Stockport’s local area committees has confirmed the local damage that is being done, and made recommendations for the Government, water companies and local planning, Councillor Lisa Smart told last week’s council meeting [13/07/23].

The investigation was the first of its kind in the country, and demonstrated the impact on local communities of this dumping.

“It’s a huge concern that local residents raise,” Smart told the Council, “whether they want to take their dogs paddling, whether they want their children to be able to go in the river on a warm day. We had wild swimmers in the area, but they have had to pack up shop, because it is not safe to swim in the rivers.”

The recommendations broke down into three main categories – primarily for the Government and for the utility companies, as well some potential changes to local planning policies.

Smart, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hazel Grove constituency, said: “The Government need to change the law to ban what’s happening, but they also need to enforce the laws that are already in place. They need to make sure the regulatory agencies and enforcement agencies are equipped and resourced to do the job that they are supposed to do.

“The water companies really need to clean up their act. They need to be more transparent with their data; they need to fix broken measuring devices more quickly. Most importantly they need to invest in a water system that is fit for purpose for 2023 and beyond.

“A number of people need to clean up their act – but particularly the Government.”