The Government has pledged to clean up Lake Windermere under plans announced today which it says will finally put an end to sewage spills and discharges
‘We are going to sit down campaigners and many others … to ensure that in future the only thing that goes into this beautiful Lake behind me is rainwater not sewage’ said Environment Secretary Steve Reed this morning in the media adding that
“Windermere is a stunningly beautiful national treasure but it’s being choked by unacceptable levels of sewage pollution.”
Wastewater from United Utilities and private sewage treatment along with rural and urban land use are among a range of pollution issues Windermere faces
Last year the BBC reported that in the last 3 years, United Utilities has illegally dumped 143,000,000 litres of untreated sewage directly into Windermere from just one of their sites
In a statement this morning the Save Windermere campaign said
‘Today, we are a significant step closer to ensuring Windermere is protected for future generations. This is a truly historic moment for our lake.’
They added that
‘This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication of countless individuals and organisations. To the businesses that stood with us; to those behind the scenes, such as the Pattinson family and Windrush Against Sewage Pollution, who helped make Save Windermere the movement it is today; to our volunteers and supporters; and to every single person who has demanded better for our lake—we thank you.
We also want to acknowledge the leadership of United Utilities CEO Louise Beardmore and Environment Agency Area Director Carol Holt, who have worked with us in recent months to help make today’s announcement possible. We are also pleased to be working alongside others in the steering committee tasked with delivering a sewage-free Windermere.’
