New analysis of Rivers Trust research reveals the sickening level of raw sewage pumped into local waterways.

The figures come as pressure builds on Conservative MPs to drop their staggering opposition to a ban on the deliberate pumping of raw sewage into our rivers and by our beaches.

Of the three Harrow MPs only Labour’s Gareth Thomas voted to ban companies from spilling raw sewage into Harrows waterways. With both Conservatives, Bob Blackman and David Simmons, voting in favour of this widely despised practice.

This comes at a time when Climate Change and green living is in the public eye. As COP26 begins in Glasgow, there are comments that the Conservatives have failed to set out any meaningful way forward after they whipped their MPs to oppose a ban in the commons last week. Leading campaigner Fergal Sharkey has been clear that Government statements so far ‘[do] not even come remotely close’ to what is required.

The legislation is expected to return to the Commons on Monday 8 November. In 2020 Harrow East alone saw 182 of spills lasting a staggering 905 hours. That is 905 hours of raw sewage flowing into our rivers something Bob Blackman decided to do nothing about.

Publishing the figures, Deputy Leader Of Harrow Council Natasha Proctor said,

“These figures are utterly revolting. Raw sewage is being pumped into local waterways for the equivalent of hours every single day. This has to stop, it’s bad for the environment, it’s bad for local families, and frankly it’s utterly disgusting.”

“People in Harrow find it utterly astonishing that Conservative MPs Bob Blackman and David Simmons voted against a ban on pumping raw sewage into our waterways. They need to stand up and represent us”

“After eleven years in power, this is the state the Conservatives have left us in. Britain is better than this. It’s time for a change.”