This #WorldMentalHealthDay with help from @unison.org.uk, we spoke to 3 workers within the water industry. From stories of death threats to physical attacks, their interviews were both enlightening and deeply sobering.
Holbeach Poultry Ltd wants to build a new factory farm that would slaughter over 3 million chickens a year – causing enormous climate and environmental harm.
“This is the largest legal action concerning environmental pollution ever brought in the UK. In a context where government and regulators have failed to prevent degradation of our rivers the court has become last avenue for justice” @ollyholland.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
🚨 NEWS! The UK’s biggest-ever legal case over environmental pollution has hit the High Court.
Nearly 4,000 people are suing Avara Foods, Freemans of Newent & Welsh Water over the state of the Wye, Lugg & Usk - rivers choked by chicken waste & sewage.
Our Head of Communities was in Manchester this week for the Conservative Party Conference. 🌳
She participated in important conversations on how agriculture can play its part in tackling river pollution and how the water sector needs to be overhauled to truly deliver for people and nature.🌍🤝
🚨NEWS! 'Token' £10m fine has been channelled towards restoring waterways affected by sewage pollution 💰
Although we welcome funding for the water restoration fund, penalties must be on a scale that actually hurts polluting water companies and drives change.
We’ve checked Downing Street, DEFRA, and even the lost property office… still no sign of the Government's policy for special administration. Has anyone seen it? 🤷♂️
🏆 REWARD FOR DISCOVERY: Clean rivers & public trust
✅ Make special administration a credible rescue tool ✅ Incentivise better water company performance ✅ Restore public trust ✅ Help to clean up our rivers
The High Court will now decide if our case can proceed to a full hearing.
🚨 UPDATE - The Government responds to our legal challenge ⚖️
Remarkably, it has been claimed AGAIN that the Government has no policy for when and how to trigger special administration for failing water companies - despite evidence to the contrary and the legal requirement to publish one.
Our CEO and Head of Legal had some great conversations including: 🤝 Discussing our vision for the Thames with Deputy Mayor, Mete Coban 💬 Diving deep into water sector reform with Minister for Water, Emma Hardy 🗣️ Catching up with various Labour MPs who are members of the APPG on Water Pollution
At the Labour Conference, it was clear that rivers remain at the forefront of the political agenda - new Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said cleaning up our water was her top priority and even the event spaces were named after rivers! 📈💧
🏅 Beyond the Finish Line - From Olympic gold to protecting our rivers. 🏊♂️🌍
At this year’s @blueearthsummit.bsky.social, we’ll be in conversation with Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave to explore how sport, community, and action can save our rivers. 💧
📢 Failing water companies must be put into Special Administration, debt wiped, investment redirected to fix leaky pipes, and regulators given real teeth to enforce the law.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS! Shocking new evidence suggests Environment Agency failed to attend many serious pollution incidents, relying on water companies’ word instead.
Internal EA rules say staff should attend all serious incidents, yet in 2024 they missed nearly a third of them. 🫣
Our Deputy Chair, Jim Murray will be joining @nicolacutcher.bsky.social in a conversation to spotlight the crisis facing our rivers and the hope for change.
On Sunday, Chicago hosted an organised swim in the Chicago River - once so polluted it was 'untouchable', decades of environmental protections brought the river back to life - now those protections are in peril.
Better drainage, filtration systems, public transport, walking + cycling routes, cleaning roads - just some of the ways we can stop this filth entering our rivers every time it rains. More information on preventing runoff at: www.stormwatershepherds.org.uk/2022/04/25/t...
Our Head of Campaigns and Head of Communities have been at the Lib Dem Party Conference, speaking with MPs and councillors to help drive ambition to rescue our rivers at both a national and local level. 📈💧
