Issue - meetings

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Marchington and P A Davies;

“This Council notes that:

1)    Most of the UK has a combined sewerage system, meaning that both rainwater and waste water (from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens) are carried in the same pipes to a sewage treatment works. However, during heavy rainfall, the capacity of these pipes can be exceeded, which has the potential to back up and flood people’s homes, roads and open spaces, unless it is allowed to spill elsewhere. As a result, the system is designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater into our rivers and seas. However, data shows that the use of overflows is not occasional, as it should be;

2)    Sewage and wastewater discharge is a significant factor in water quality and has an adverse impact on the health of river ecosystems;

3)    According to the Wildlife Trusts, only 16% of waters in England are currently in good ecological health and none meet chemical standards. This means that, overall, there are no rivers, lakes, estuaries or seas in England that are currently in a healthy condition;

4)    This is a local issue as well. Last year, the amount of time sewage was allowed to spill into Yorkshire’s waterways was 232,054 hours, with 54,273 monitored spill events. According to the Environment Agency, parts of Yorkshire have some of the highest number of serious water pollution incidents in England and Kirklees has ranked amongst the highest in recent years. Data from 2021 has revealed that 5 of the top 20 most polluted rivers are in Yorkshire, with the River Calder the second most sewage-polluted waterway in the country, with sewage flowing into the river and tributaries for 27,901 hours.

This Council believes that:

1)    Healthy waterways are the foundation for all life, but our rivers and lakes have become poisoned, which has had a hugely negative impact on aquatic wildlife and habitats;

2)    The Government needs to set out more ambitious targets to repair the damage inflected on our rivers and watercourses;

3)    The council has a number of legal responsibilities in relation to protecting its rivers and watercourses as well as in relation to public health;

4)    Local authorities, including Kirklees Council, should also have powers to fine water utility companies for preventable sewage dumping. The Council should use its voice to put pressure on water companies and the Government to make improvements and fulfil their obligations to Kirklees residents, and resident elsewhere across the country;

5)    Many Kirklees residents are concerned about water quality and the impact of regular wastewater discharge and untreated sewage into our rivers, and the impact that this has on human health and wildlife. Now, more than ever, water quality is at the forefront of public consciousness, as releasing sewage into rivers is no longer an emergency-only situation occurring as a result of severe rainfall, but a regular occurrence. This is at a time when water companies are reportedly pushing to be allowed to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 17:

Item not considered.

(Meeting terminated in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16(2).)