Campaign to clean up our waterways gathering pace with planned march
A gathering voice raised in objection to the abject state of our canals, rivers and seasides is set to gain extra traction with a Thames march planned for Sunday week.
A March for Clean Water is taking place from 11-3pm, with the Albert Embankment as its meeting point. A rally will be held in Parliament Square at around 1.30pm.
Those taking part are being urged to wear blue to make it look like a huge flowing river as it makes its way towards the Houses of Parliament.
Among the speakers demanding change to what they say has been free-for-all for polluters will be TV presenter Chris Packham. Music, poems and films will be on display showcasing beautiful landscapes under threat.
Around 100 organisations have signed up for the march, and among those who have pledged support to the campaign is Feargal Sharkey and Stephen Fry.
Campaigners are keen to highlight the issues which affect swimmers, anglers, paddleboarders and rowers as well as the wildlife.
A recent blitz of water readings taken across the country by concerned citizens revealed high readings of E-coli in some parts of the Thames.
Organisers of the march said: “We are marching to demand the Government stop the poisoning of Britain’s waters with three clear calls: Reform regulation, enforce the law and stop pollution for profit.”
The group fronting the campaign, River Action, has posted its message on YouTube saying: “Right now, rivers up and down the country are blighted by pollution.
“Private companies and their shareholders are making money directly off the back of polluting our waters. It’s literally dirty money. River Action is on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers – demanding government and industry take action.”
A new billboard made of £50 notes, stained brown with sewage waste, has been created to symbolise the dirty profits of water companies, while separately exposing that Thames Water has dumped sewage into the Thames for 7,002 hours since January 2024.
It displays a bold caption: ‘This money is stained with crap, just like water company profits’
Head of campaigns at River Action, Amy Fairman, said, “Water companies are up to their necks in it, treating our rivers, seas and lakes like open sewers. Meanwhile they squander bill payers cash with impunity, splashing it on shareholder dividends, bonuses for their bosses and paying huge levels of interest on their junk-rated debt.
“The financial gains they make are filthy money. It’s time for change. The UK public is fed up with sewage-drenched waterways and our campaign demands urgent reform.”
Thames Water has been approached for comment.
Pictured top: A flyer advertising the event by the Thames at Richmond (Picture: YTJourno)