Motion by Councillor Nick Field Johnson
“This Council is concerned about the widely reported over use of combined sewer overflows which should only discharge untreated sewage into our rivers in exceptional conditions. It appears that this has not been the case and these sewage overflows are used much more frequently.
The Council is aware the Windrush and all but one of Oxfordshire’s rivers are receiving treated effluent which is greatly inferior to that which is required for rivers in Sites of Special Scientific Interest, for example:
The River Windrush and about 80% of British rivers are failing to achieve the good health standard required by the European Water Framework directive. There is a real risk that such rivers run the risk of turning from assets to liabilities for our communities and businesses. The potential designation of the Cotswolds as a National Park makes this even more pertinent for Oxfordshire.
Council calls for the Leader to write to the Minister for the Environment, the Chief Executive Officer of Thames Water and the Head of the Environment Agency, supporting the long and short term aims to fight Against Sewage Pollution in our rivers. The focus of this motion is on the Windrush but its success will impact positively on all of Oxfordshire’s river and streams affected by sewage pollution.”
Decision:
The Motion was carried unanimously (58 votes to 0).
Minutes:
Councillor Nick Field-Johnson moved and Councillor Liz Leffman seconded the following motion:
“This Council is concerned about the widely reported over use of combined sewer overflows which should only discharge untreated sewage into our rivers in exceptional conditions. It appears that this has not been the case and these sewage overflows are used much more frequently.
The Council is aware the Windrush and all but one of Oxfordshire’s rivers are receiving treated effluent which is greatly inferior to that which is required for rivers in Sites of Special Scientific Interest, for example:
The River Windrush and about 80% of British rivers are failing to achieve the good health standard required by the European Water Framework directive. There is a real risk that such rivers run the risk of turning from assets to liabilities for our communities and businesses. The potential designation of the Cotswolds as a National Park makes this even more pertinent for Oxfordshire.
Council calls for the Leader to write to the Minister for the Environment, the Chief Executive Officer of Thames Water and the Head of the Environment Agency, supporting the long and short term aims to fight Against Sewage Pollution in our rivers. The focus of this motion is on the Windrush but its success will impact positively on all of Oxfordshire’s river and streams affected by sewage pollution.”
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried by 58 votes to 0.
RESOLVED: (unanimous) accordingly.