THE recently elected MP for North Cornwall is calling from immediate and effective action to address the persistent issue of sewage dumping in the area. 

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, has published a letter setting out his agenda for an upcoming meeting with Susan Davey, CEO of South West Water.   

In his latest communication, Ben praised the recent governmental initiative which mandates water companies to ring-fence funds for critical infrastructure. These funds are strictly to be used for environmental protection and community service improvements, with any unspent amounts to be returned to customers. 

 In his letter, Mr Maguire lays out a number of demands, including: An immediate implementation of new reforms with a clear timeline, halting all sewage dumping activities to safeguard public health and the environment, quick upgrades to South West Water’s infrastructure to manage peak loads and prevent future sewage overflows, and a review and potential suspension of any bill increases until service improvements are evident. 

Ben Maguire said: “An urgent meeting with South West Water is now confirmed, and we aim to push these critical issues forward. The people of North Cornwall deserve better. 

 “One of my top issues I campaigned so hard on over these last few months was stopping sewage dumping and pollution by water companies, namely South West Water here on my patch. The River Inney near Launceston, for instance, is one of the worst affected waters in the entirety of the UK, with untreated sewage flowing into it almost constantly from a nearby treatment centre. 

 “Now that I’ve been elected, and officially sworn in as North Cornwall’s MP, it remains a top priority. I’ll be working closely with my fellow Liberal Democrat MP down in St Ives, Andrew George, as well as the other four Labour MPs here in Cornwall, to ensure these drastic issues are resolved as soon as possible.”