David Chadwick MP Claims Campaign Win as Ofwat to Be Scrapped

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe and Deputy Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, David Chadwick, has welcomed the landmark recommendation to scrap Ofwat, the underperforming water regulator for England and Wales, a key Liberal Democrat policy the party has campaigned for over several years.

The proposal, published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, comes after years of Liberal Democrat campaigning against sewage dumping and weak oversight of the water industry. The Commission has called for the replacement of Ofwat, along with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Environment Agency powers, with a single, integrated water regulator for England and a new national body for Wales.

David Chadwick, who has long championed cleaning up rivers in his constituency, including the Wye, Usk and Tawe, stated that this development is a major step forward in restoring trust in the water system. However, he warned that without firm action to end sewage pollution in Welsh waterways, the reforms would fall short of delivering real change.

For years, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been calling out the failures of water companies who have prioritised profit over public health and the environment. Rivers such as the Wye and Usk, and Tawe are amongst the most sewage-polluted in the entire UK, something which the Lib Dems have regularly stated places local wildlife, public health and tourism at risk.

The Cunliffe review sets out 88 recommendations, including tighter rules on company ownership, mandatory water metering, and the creation of a new water ombudsman.

But the Welsh Lib Dems have stressed the importance of implementation and urgency, especially in Wales, given that the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay also hold significant powers over the sector and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water is the worst-performing water company of any in the entirety of the UK when it comes to sewage dumping.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also continued to express concern that Natural Resources Wales will be able to handle its new responsibilities, given that it has faced over 10 years of cuts from the Welsh Labour Government and is seriously understaffed.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick said:

“Cleaning up our rivers has been one of my number one priorities since being elected as an MP and my first engagement after I was elected was to the Brecon pumping station to meet the CEO of Dwr Cymru.

“I have since spoken out in parliament numerous times on the issue, including having repeatedly called for Ofwat to be scrapped.

“This is a huge win for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the thousands of local campaigners across Mid & South Wales who have demanded change. Scrapping Ofwat is a long-overdue step; it has utterly failed to protect our rivers, our communities and our environment.

“But the fight is far from over. The River Wye, Usk, Tawe and countless other Welsh rivers are still being poisoned by raw sewage. Our communities deserve clean water, strong regulation and environmental justice, not more empty promises.

“We need immediate action, real investment in infrastructure, and assurances that Natural Resources Wales will be given the resources it needs to be able to put people and nature before profit. The Welsh Labour Government has so far failed to deliver this, and we will continue to push them to act.”

ENDS