Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has met with the Environment Agency and has called for action to protect the River Nidd and improve water quality.
On Friday (10th January), Mr Gordon, alongside Councillor Hannah Gostlow, met with the Environment Agency at the Knaresborough Lido on the River Nidd.
They discussed the situation with sewage in the river, the pressures facing the local environment and what the Environment Agency is doing to ensure that the Knaresborough Lido achieves the required water quality.
The representatives from the Environment Agency took Tom through the jobs that they do, and explained more about how the sewer system in Harrogate and Knaresborough works.
Tom, Hannah and the local Lib Dems have been supporting the campaign of the Nidd Action Group to get the Nidd cleaned up, alongside the community.
Tom said:
“I’m very pleased to have had this meeting today. It’s been really helpful to understand more about what the Environment Agency do, discuss the current challenges we are facing and consider those that are coming.
“We need action from the Government to fix the sewage crisis and make sure that the water companies are held to account for the repeated failures.
“There is no reason why the water at Knaresborough Lido shouldn’t be clean. I’m so glad to be working alongside likeminded people, and want to thank the Nidd Action Group, Cllr Gostlow, Andrew Jones and others for their hard work to get bathing water status at the Lido last year.”
The meeting comes following months of scandal at Yorkshire Water, who have seen repeated sewage discharges and reports on failing to deal with customer complaints, all whilst paying out a large bonus to their CEO and looking to hike bills.
Cllr Hannah Gostlow added:
“Water quality in the Nidd is still unacceptably poor. Working with the community we are doing all we can to clean up our river.
“But we need government action to make it safe for bathers and to allow wildlife to flourish.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Environment Agency, Tom and other stakeholders to see water quality improve.”
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