The Tories are killing us

I really wouldn't lower yourself to their level mate.

 

I used to know someone called Stuart Bridge.

 

When I’ve been to gym I often have a Smelly Bridge.

 

I knew a lad called Richard Head. Not joking. What the fu.ck were his parents on?

 

An Animal hospital mate. Glad to help.

 

I wish we had more like Feargal Sharkey. Prominent figures. Taking up the battle against the Governments. OFWAT and the Water companies. Got his head screwed on that man as to what's happened/happening.

He'd get my vote as
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for water, forestry, rural affairs and resource management

 

He has a good heart.

 

Which is very hard to find mate.

 

He’s more perfect than his cousin

 

What I like to do he doesn't.

 

The privatisation of water companies has been disastrous, and today the far from impartial Ofwat have approved a £19 increase in bills. But in addition to raw sewage being allowed to flow into our rivers and seas, our waterways are being polluted in many other ways.

Run off from construction, run off from farming, shedding of forever chemicals from modern waterproof clothing and while washing pans, litter, especially plastic and even some evil extremely hazardous chemicals found in pet treatments that kill fleas.... And all other insects. Sadly, these are now found in 66% of our rivers. The truly frightening thing... One dosage that will treat an animal for 28 days is potent enough to kill 25 MILLION bees. One animal. One month.

 

I know a Richard Blower.

 

Sad news. Having spent a week on that coast last month I avoided going in any sea. I wouldn't even go bare foot on the sand. Out of the beaches I saw Scarborough looked the dirtiest.

It was noticeable that the sea at Filey was cleaner than Scarborough, Whitby, Bridlington and Cayton Bay. Barely a seagull is ever seen there either, which is another huge plus.

 

Too much self policing takes place. The environment agency, when I started in 1988 were visual nearly every day of the week during my rounds of many sewage treatment and pumping facilities I became friends with many of the clean up guys who were made redundant. As for monitoring They were cut drastically also, as to create self policing. Making very few visits. In fact over the last couple of decades. Invisible. I'm aware of practices that were done to prevent visits. Some lads were scared they'd be named a culprit and some in fact were. But on the whole it was driven from the top to reduce the workforce and put the onus on those left to do more than what was possible.
Everything fell on deaf ears.
A new Director of operations started at the water company and gave a speech. Her last employer who she was a director of . Was The environment agency. I questioned her on these types of issues and what she thought. She'd gone within weeks.
I dont know how industrial and farming waste to rivers is monitored but they face massive fines if breaking the guidelines. Some have their own treatment facilities. Some send waste to a specialist treatment facility by tanker. But as with everything, it costs money. Some will take a risk.

A public enquiry is a must. It would not match the post office on ruined lives. But would create a similar reaction.

 

Like so many agencies, the tories have failed in their duty to make ofwat and the environment agency fit for purpose and I think, pardon the pun, their powers were to be watered down further if the election outcome had been different. Sadly, there are too many businesses and too many executives who are powered by greed.

And you're right about the water and environment merry go round, there was a programme with Joe Lycett some months ago that showed the lack of impartiality between regulators and water companies as executives got jobs at each other.

There was a march to restore nature in London a few weeks ago, sadly we couldn't go for obvious reasons. Chris Packham, NT, RSPB and hundreds of other bodies all taking part. I think numbers were 60-80k but it hardly made the news. I know Labour have some environmental policies, but they do seem to jar with their growth ambitions, planning reform and new town and housing targets. Its frightening to think we've literally lost around 80% of our wildlife since the 70s and I don't see that improving anytime soon.

 

This thread is enlightening, sobering and depressing in equal measures.