Harrogate and Knaresborough residents have called for stronger action on river pollution as part of a Yorkshire-wide campaign.
Wild Waters Yorkshire is lobbying MPs for tougher protections for rivers and seas, drawing on a survey of 433 Yorkshire Water customers conducted in September.
The campaign says it wants MPs to support stronger regulation, greater accountability for water companies and a move towards public ownership.
Among comments submitted by Harrogate and Knaresborough constituents, one respondent said: “Fix the leaks. Fix the sewage in our rivers ...save the rivers.”
Another said:
“Pollution in our rivers is a red line that should not be crossed by any water company.”
Across the Yorkshire-wide survey, 92% of respondents said they were very concerned about sewage in rivers and seas, with a further 4.6% quite concerned.
Meanwhile, 81.3% of the 406 people who answered a question about ownership said water companies should be nationalised and run in the public sector.
The survey gathered responses largely through social media groups. Its findings reflect the views of those who took part, rather than a representative sample of all Yorkshire Water customers.
Respondents also raised concerns about executive bonuses, dividends and the effectiveness of regulation.
One Harrogate and Knaresborough constituent said:
“Water is a natural resource and water companies should be state owned and managed with strong local community engagement.”
Wild Waters Yorkshire says it is seeking support from 50 Yorkshire MPs whose constituents are supplied by Yorkshire Water, ahead of anticipated legislation to reform the industry.
The group wants stronger enforcement against polluters and greater protection for everyone who uses rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has previously criticised Yorkshire Water following the publication of its annual report in July, describing the company as “morally bankrupt” and calling for its chief executive to resign.
In its annual results statement, Yorkshire Water said it was investing £8.3 billion between 2025 and 2030 to improve services, reduce pollution and leakage, and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure.
The company said the programme was the biggest investment in its history and would help protect the region’s rivers and coastline.
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