The Parliamentary Labour candidate for North West Leicestershire has called for action to deal with rising pollution in North West Leicestershire rivers and brooks.

County Councillor Amanda Hack, who will stand for the district at the next General Election, responded to analysis of pollution data reported by the Rivers Trust which revealed that the discharge of raw sewage has increased at many sites operated by Severn Trent in North West Leicestershire.

The latest data reveals over 1,200 incidents in 2022 where untreated human waste was dumped directly into local rivers and brooks at 61 locations.

The discharges, reported as 'storm overflows', continued for the equivalent of 487 days.

Cllr Hack says that a study of the most polluting sites in North West Leicestershire reveals that sewage dumping is getting worse at six out of 10 locations.

Discharges at Packington and Kegworth have more than doubled.

Untreated human waste was poured directly into Ibstock Brook for 945 hours in 2022 – a more than threefold increase since 2020.

The situation is also deteriorating at Severn Trent sites in Snarestone, Swannington and Thringstone.

In total, 1,263 sewage dumping incidents were recorded across North West Leicestershire in 2022, with the discharges continuing for almost 12,000 hours.

 Cllr Hack said: "The current state of our rivers and waterways is nothing short of a national disgrace.

"Not one river in England is classed as being in a healthy condition.

"The situation is worsening in North West Leicestershire from the River Sence to the River Soar.

Labour has issued a map showing the figures across North West Leicestershire

"Last year the Conservatives gave the green light to the water companies to dump sewage and neglect vital infrastructure.

"At the same time, they have allowed shareholders to walk away with billions in dividends, whilst directors are rewarded with bumper bonuses."

Cllr Hack has added her name to an open letter to Conservative MPs signed by Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon and environment campaigner and former Undertones lead singer Feargal Sharkey.

The letter seeks to secure cross-party support for the Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill, which was being debated in the House of Commons today (Tuesday).

 Cllr Hack added: "In the absence of any credible Government plan to end sewage dumping, the Labour Party is standing up for local people by pushing for immediate action to clean up our waterways.

"Labour's Bill will set a legal requirement for monitoring sewage outlets, with automatic fines for sewage dumping. It also establishes legally binding targets to cut pollution.

 "The Bill provides a clear plan to end systematic sewage dumping in North West Leicestershire while ensuring that companies like Severn Trent cannot pass the cost on to households already suffering the consequences of the Tory cost of living crisis."