Coalville MP Amanda Hack says a new law targetting waterway pollution will address sewage dumping in the River Sence.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill has introduced new powers that will allow regulators to take tougher, faster action to crack down on water company bosses who damage the environment and fail their customers.

The Bill aims to clean up the water sector, including significantly increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against law-breaking water executives. 

It will create new tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for water executives when companies fail to co-operate or obstruct investigations.

Welcoming the new legislation, Ms Hack, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: "Sewage dumping in our waterways has been out of control for far too long. 

North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack. Photo: Supplied

"The River Sence, along with several local brooks and streams, has been severely impacted over the past 14 years, and this must change quickly. 

"These new powers will equip OFWAT and other regulators with the means to challenge Severn Trent Water, which has permitted this toxic waste to flow for far too long. 

"During the general election, I committed to improving our waterways, and this legislation will help to uphold that promise. 

"This is just a first step to transforming how the water industry is run. We will soon outline further legislation to speed up the delivery of upgrades to our sewage infrastructure to clean up our waterways for good."

Blowers Brook at Ravenstone. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

The Sence rises on Bardon Hill and crosses the A50, flowing westwards with a tributary stream from Coalville past Hugglescote and Donington le Heath. 

It then turns south-west, receiving Blower's Brook and another tributary from Ravenstone, continuing between Heather and Ibstock, between Newton Burgoland and Odstonoe, through Shackerstone, between Bilstone and Congerstone, and between Sheepy Magna and Sheepy Parva.