Gloucestershire County Council is to ask central government to consider nationalising failing water and wastewater provider Thames Water, thanks to a Green Party motion.
The motion at the full meeting on Wednesday (July 16) called on Government to review the case for nationalisation of Thames Water and the wider UK water industry, including the potential for restructuring the industry into one or more public benefit companies. It also called for the future of Thames Water to be subject to a transparent, democratic process, with scrutiny from politicians from areas supplied by Thames Water; trade unions and workers; citizens’ groups, and environmental organisations.
The motion, proposed by Cllr Chloe Turner (Green, Minchinhampton) and seconded by Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Liberal Democrat, Bourton-on-the-Water & Northleach), passed with majority support.
Thames Water serves thousands of customers across eastern Gloucestershire and has been widely criticised for its poor record on leaks and sewage pollution, as well as its huge debts.
Cllr Turner has been working with Compass, a cross-party campaigning organisation for a good society, which campaigns on the public ownership of water. Lena Swedlow, campaigns manager for Compass, said: “It’s wonderful to see Gloucestershire County Council pass this motion, the latest in an ever-growing number of motions supported by Lib Dem, Green, and Labour councillors across the Thames region.
“Local people and local government are constantly ahead of Westminster on this – from grassroots anti-sewage campaigners to county councils, the national movement for clean, affordable water is succeeding. Local leaders know that public ownership of water is the global norm and that industry workers, environmental experts and the general public remain clear in their demands.”
Cllr Turner said: “Water is too important a resource to be in private hands. For Greens, nationalisation is the only credible option to end the unlawful dumping of sewage, stop rewarding shareholders for failure, reinvest all profits back into fixing leaks, and build new infrastructure fit for the future.”
She added: “The government claims nationalisation would cost too much, but this assessment is based on a report commissioned by the water companies, who are hardly unbiased sources. The reality, according to independent experts, is that Thames Water could be nationalised at minimal cost. And nationalisation works: water services in 90% of the world are already in public ownership, which has been shown to bringgreat benefits to customers, staff and the environment.”
Cllr Hodgkinson said: “I’ve seen first-hand the widespread sewage pollution in the Cotswolds. This in itself is totally unacceptable but it’s clear that privatisation of the water industry has been a disaster for clean water, a disaster for Gloucestershire and a disaster for everyone in the Thames Water area.”
Green group leader Cllr Beki Hoyland (Forest of Dean: Blakeney & Bream) said: “We can exist for three minutes without air and for three days without water, it is one of our basic human requirements. Indeed it violates the UK’s health and safety regulations to deny tap water to someone.
“So how can something as basic as clean, drinkable water and the safe management of sewerage infrastructure be used to make huge individual and corporate profit? How can this vital service not have public scrutiny? This motion demonstrates this council’s support for taking water out of the hands of for-profit organisations.”
Cllr Turner is pictured with Cllr Steve Williams (Green) of Waverley Borough Council and Green peer Jenny Jones, Baroness of Moulsecoomb, outside the Royal Courts of Justice demanding a Thames Water “Alternative Board” earlier this year.