Blackpool’s beaches will be a source of pride, not pollution

Blackpool’s coastline should be a source of pride and joy for us residents. Our beaches should be a symbol of community spirit, where families and visitors alike can gather, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty of the coastline. But under the leadership of the Conservatives, raw sewage has been pumped into Blackpool’s waters, turning a place of pride into a danger to our health and wellbeing.

As your Member of Parliament, I’ve been fighting for change. Since my election in May, I have held United Utilities to account for its consistent discharge of untreated sewage into our waters. Last year, during the Environment Agency’s 153-day water quality testing period, Blackpool’s beaches were unsafe for almost 40% of the summer season, including an entire month with zero safe days.

In the video below from May, I meet Dr Barbara Kneale from Fylde Coast Against Sewage campaign group. Read an update on my work with them here.

This is not just an environmental issue. It’s a public health issue. When our beaches are polluted, it’s not just the water that suffers – it’s our community, our businesses, and the reputation of Blackpool itself. This is a disgrace that must end.

That’s why I am so proud of the landmark legislation introduced by the Labour Government – the Water (Special Measures) Bill. This Bill delivers the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade. Under it, regulators will be able to take tougher and faster action to crack down on polluting water companies like United Utilities. For far too long, these companies have been allowed to behave as though they are above the law. Under this new legislation, they won’t have the luxury of impunity anymore.

One of the key provisions in the Bill is the ability to ban bonuses for water executives if they fail to meet high environmental standards. Too often, we’ve seen executives raking in millions in bonuses while their companies pollute our waters and fail to provide basic services. The new law will make it clear – no one is above the law. If these executives continue to turn a blind eye to the damage they’re causing, they could face criminal charges – including imprisonment.

And it doesn’t stop there. The Bill also introduces automatic fines for a wide range of offences, allowing regulators to act quickly and efficiently without waiting for lengthy investigations. This means penalties can be imposed faster, giving companies less room to wiggle out of responsibility. Additionally, there will be independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. If they discharge sewage, it must be reported within an hour.

In addition to the immediate action, this Bill represents the first step in Labour’s broader plan to fix the broken water system in this country. We will continue to push for further reform to overhaul the industry and speed up the necessary upgrades to our sewage infrastructure. No longer will we accept a situation where Blackpool’s residents and visitors are subjected to dangerous, polluted seas due to the inaction of powerful corporations.

For 14 years under Conservative leadership we’ve seen a failure to address this crisis. This action is long overdue and the Labour government is making up for lost time. With this new legislation, we will hold water companies and their executives accountable and ensure that our waters, our beaches, and our communities are protected for future generations.

Blackpool’s beaches should be a source of pride, not pollution. Labour is taking the necessary steps to make that vision a reality. Together, we can make sure our seas are safe once again.