Blog

Posted on

News and events

This blog will display news and events information in chronological order, newest first, plus a list of the most recent posts. The drop down Category list below It can be filtered by category from the list, which is in alphabetical order.

Posted on

People’s Commission Updates prior to the Water White Paper

Dear friends
We hope you had a good festive break.
We have a couple of updates for you.
1. Water Reform White Paper & Bill
We understand this will be published this week/ next week with a relatively short timetable between the White Paper and the Bill. This is now a vital time to secure MP support for the People’s Commission Report and recommendations.
2. Cunliffe Independent Commission
Many of you submitted evidence to the Commission. We have tried through the Freedom Of Information Request Process, to secure publication of all the evidence. Some evidence in the report is provided as a link to the submitting organisations website. Much of the referencing is ‘Evidence submitted to the commission’ or ‘Engagement with the commission’ with no detail or way of scrutinising it. We have looked at the ‘Summary of Evidence’ which primarily provides a summary of the Commission’s survey, and surveys done by NGOs. There are key issues from the public which have not made it into the final report. A previous FOI uncovered the significant time spent by the Commission with Investors, Regulators and Water Companies. None of the investor evidence is publicly available. our FOI has been rejected on the basis that it would take Defra too long to find the evidence in its references and make that reference available. Clearly Defra did not catalogue or organise the submitted material. The logic to the report recommendations cannot therefore be verified or scrutinised. We have sent all of this to EFRA.
3. White Paper Action
We provided a briefing to MPs in December, chaired by Sir Alistair Carmichael, and co-hosted by Anna Dixon and Clive Lewis which was really appreciated by those that attended and we will be running another one in the next few weeks when we know the White Paper timetable.
The Sewage Campaign Network is running an MP Drop-In event on the 17th March. They are also asking campaign groups and anyone with a passion to secure change, to book a 1:1 with their MP on the same day. We will then all meet for a debrief in the afternoon. SCN will be providing materials for MPs.
IF YOU would like to be kept informed about this please let us know and we will pass your email address to SCN for updates.
Many thanks
Posted on

Please can you ask your MP to attend.

Message from Professor Becky Malby:-

Your MPs will have received this email invitation from Alistair Carmichael MP (and Chair of EFRA), Anna Dixon MP and Clive Lewis MP.
Please can you ask your MP to attend.
Invitation to MPs and Staff – Briefing in Preparation for the Water White Paper, hosted by Alistair Carmichael MP, Anna Dixon MP, Clive Lewis MP.
9th December 17.15 – 18.15
Room CR19 in the Palace of Westminster
Following the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 and the Cunliffe Review, it is expected the Government will publish a White Paper in the new year to address the crisis of water pollution and shortage, and provide a vision for the sector.
The People’s Commission on the Water Sector provided robust evidence on the solutions that could secure public value, drawing on both national and international expertise. Both EFRA and PAC have published reports relevant to this White Paper which the government is currently developing with the intention to introduce the Water Bill in 2026.
You are invited to attend an in person briefing from industry experts to support your scrutiny of the White Paper and pose questions you may wish to raise during the passage of the Bill.
A short 15 minute presentation will cover:
  • Ensuring the water sector provides value to the public, clarifying the real costs and who should pay.
  • Effective regulation and the role of the new single regulator.
  1. Municipalisation and public ownership of water – what works and how it delivers lower costs and better outcomes.
Speakers :
  • Professors Becky Malby BEM, and Dr Kate Bayliss, authors of Cleaner, Fairer, Cheaper – report from the People’s Commission. 
  • Ash Smith, The Sewage Campaign Network/ Windrush Against Sewage Pollution
  • Feargal Sharkey
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A, which will bring together grassroots campaigners, citizen scientists and experts who have contributed to the People’s Commission’s work.
Prof Becky Malby
Ilkley Clean River Group
Tel: 07974777309
Bluesky: @cleanilkley.bsky.social
Posted on

Professor Malby asks you to sign this petition

Dear friends
We are sharing this in case you want to sign it
When we went to parliament we were asked what we are doing next. We said we are handing our report to MPs for them to act. This is one of the actions.
Prof Becky Malby
Posted on

Please share widely, on social media, by emails

Professor Becky Malby reports that The People’s Commission on the Water Sector full report is out today.
Please share widely, on social media, by emails.
We are seeing a water company onslaught in the press, with very little counter argument being invited in (radio 4 Today Programme this morning was a prime example)
 
The People’s Commission on the Water Sector reports today that:
The privatised water model has failed and a shift to public ownership is required for these reasons:
  • All bill payers money is used for water services. We are not servicing eye watering debt of between 21-50% of bills. Surplus funds are reinvested.
  • All the water sectors effort focuses on cleaning up our rivers lakes and seas, not servicing oversees financial interests. It is possible to collaborate to secure better solutions to our water crisis.
  • Public trust is reinstated, and people can get involved in conserving and protecting water, playing our part in the safety of our water now and in the future.
  • Regulators focus on people and the environment, with open and transparent data for public scrutiny, rather than chasing down private water companies with criminal investigations and trying to stop money leaking out into executives purses and shareholders bank accounts.
  • Any debt needed is cheaper, as government can borrow at interest rates far lower than the 8-12% being charged by current ‘investors’.
  • There will be no incentive to inflate costs or delay spending in order to accrue money for shareholders.
Transition to Public Ownership

When pollution, historic returns to shareholders and banks, all company debts, and outstanding repair costs are taken into account, the value (and hence the cost of compensation) is likely in the case of Thames to be close to zero because shareholders and banks have already been paid and will not deserve a further bail out with taxpayer or bill payer’s money (McGaughey 2025). Other companies will follow suit.

Even if there are some upfront costs with public ownership, these are likely to soon be recouped and must be set against the ongoing high costs of privatisation. The costs will be nowhere near the current purported cost of over £100bn which is serious scaremongering.

Investments

Without the burden of private sector debt, money from bill payers is liberated to use for the plans for the next 5 years. Any additional debt required will be small, and will be attractive to patient capital as the overall water sector will be stable and predictable, rather than in perpetual crisis.

In addition the report recommends:

  • A Cross-Party Crisis Committee to develop a National Strategy for Water with a strategic advisory group of independent experts – (SAGE) for Water
  • Getting on top of upstream pollution with those that pollute being responsible for cleaning up our waterways, on the Polluter Pays principle

Prof Becky Malby BEM, Dr Kate Bayliss, Prof Frances Cleaver, Prof Ewan McGaughey

Posted on

Message from Professor Becky Malby of ICRG

Dear Friends
The People’s Commission now needs your help to secure government attention.
The People’s Commission report was launched to MPs on Monday and is now public.
1. Please can you share the report. If you have social media please can you post your support and a link to the report https://www.thepeoplescommissiononthewatersector.co.uk/general-2-3-1
2. If you agree with the recommendations and want government to act please can you:
(a) write to the People’s Commision  peoplescommissionwater@gmail.com
saying that you agree with and support the recommendations. Your name/ your organisation’s name will be posted on the PC website, and the PC will be writing to Minister Hardy when the Cunliffe Review comes out with the names of who is supporting their report.
(b) share the report with your MP. The People’s Commission will be sending an FAQ for MPs early next week, based on the questions from MPs at the launch.
3. Becky will be running a short briefing on zoom for anyone that wants one on the report findings. Monday at 6pm
Becky Malby is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: People’s Commission Campaign Groups briefing
Time: Jul 14, 2025 06:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82500656970?pwd=s6b4uJwSDWb8g8gKuGPtiSeuzAoZaX.1Meeting ID: 825 0065 6970
Passcode: 708244
Many thanks for all your support, and apologies for cross posting if you are on the PC mailing list.
Prof Becky Malby
Ilkley Clean River Group
The Sewage Campaign Network
Tel: 07974777309
Bluesky: @cleanilkley.bsky.social
https://www.ilkleycleanriver.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/Ilkley-Clean-River-Group-431201944302819/
Posted on

The People’s Commission launches report at the Houses of Parliament

Dear friends
Thank you for supporting the People’s Commission. We launch the Report Executive Summary on Monday at the Houses of Parliament. Please do share with your local press if you feel able to.
The report is embargoed until 7am Monday morning. That means that this email is for you and not to be shared until 7am Monday unless its to the press who can run stories for Monday morning. Many thanks.
The full report will be on our website in the next couple of weeks just ahead of the Cunliffe review, which looks like its going to recommend stronger regulation, different incentives, some joint planning – but in our view nothing that addresses the route causes of our water crisis, or secures water security for now and the future. Our report is a direct challenge to the thinking that more of the same direction will work.
More to follow… and thank you for all your help and support, we really appreciate it.
Many thanks
Prof Becky Malby BEM, Dr Kate Bayliss, Prof Frances Cleaver, Prof Ewan McGaughey

Downloads:

Posted on

Ilkley Clean River Group Zoom meeting

Ilkley Clean River Group and Surfers Against Sewage are providing space for an update on recent developments with the Independent Water Commission and Bathing Water Regulations.

Wed 16 Apr 2025 6pm – 7pm on Zoom

We would really like to hear from you during the evening too and your updates. Is there anything in particular you would like us to update on or provide information? Please let us know in advance.

All the best

Becky, Kirsty & Lizzie

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86372466701?pwd=bZpp6C20zUEv1HiRGRyzsPUuRqTSid.1

Meeting ID: 863 7246 6701

Passcode: 332182

Ilkley Clean River Campaign

The Sewage Campaign Network

Tel: 07974777309

Bluesky: @cleanilkley.bsky.social

https://www.ilkleycleanriver.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/Ilkley-Clean-River-Group-431201944302819/

Posted on

Registration is now open for all The People’s Commission Events

Please do share with your members and friends
Event One: International Water Systems online. 27th March
Event Two: Resilient Water Systems in Knaresborough. 31st March
Event Three: Governance  – Ownership of and Decision-Making on the Water Sector in Whitstable. 1st May.
Event Four: Securing Public Value in Henley on Thames. 10th June.

About the People’s Commission

In October 2024 the government launched an independent commission on the English and Welsh water systems. While we welcome such an initiative, we are concerned that the remit of the government’s commission is restricted in two main ways:

  • The scope is limited to improving regulation of the current system rather than considering alternative models of water provision, or providing solutions to ensure we have a robust sustainable and resilient water system.
  • Participation in the government’s commission is limited to stakeholders within the sector with little scope for involvement from the public who use water services and whose bills finance the entire water sector.
The People’s Commission, led by four academics from UK universities, aims to broaden the scope of the government commission, with public meetings in local venues across England. We will take evidence from sector experts and water users, and draw on international experience to devise policy options for a sustainable, equitable and effective water system. The People’s Commission is ambitious for a water system that is commensurate with a developed country, that secures our water quality, and that ensures our supply and sewage treatment is resilient in the context of our population and climate, and where water bills deliver clean water for our rivers, lakes and seas. In this respect this People’s Commission shares the government’s vision.

We have considerable analysis of the problem over years of campaigning. The People’s Commission will be solution focused, facing immediate and future problems. We know this is possible. Other countries have water systems that provide better quality affordable water outcomes that are resilient for the future.

You can learn more about the People’s Commission here

The People’s Commission Events
These are the upcoming events and you can see all of the events here
Posted on

Yorkshire Water Meeting

Yorkshire Water Meeting – Investment to improve Wetherby’s Water

A meeting between WAVCRG and Yorkshire Water yielded positive results today after YW announced an investment programme for Wetherby. Over the next 5 years and as part of a £75 million investment scheme, storage containers will be installed at all 7 outlets that lead into the Wharfe at Wetherby. This will significantly reduce the number of discharges of sewage into the river.

Wetherby will also be receiving an additional investment for Phosphorus works, which will coincide with the 5-year project for storage tanks.
This is a positive step and a move in the right direction to tackle sewage discharges in our river.

Wetherby recently received Bathing Water Status, what does this mean for the proposed improvements?

Due to us being successful in our application for Bathing Water Status, Wetherby will be prioritised in this 5-year programme along the catchment, with other bathing sites like Knaresborough and Ilkley.

Further details of timescales and delivery of the project will be shared over the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Connor Mulhall
Deputy Town Mayor
Proudly powered by WordPress