‘Our waterways are suffering from chronic neglect’

A ‘FUNDAMENTAL reset’ of the water sector in England and Wales is needed to restore public confidence, to clean up waterways and to meet the demands of climate change, says the Government-commissioned, 464-page Cunliffe Report, which released its findings last month. It is highly critical of the current labyrinthine processes, lack of joined-up thinking, ‘opaque’ planning systems, ‘unintelligible framework’ and lack of collaborative innovation between water companies; the public is to blame, too, for blocking drains.

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It recommends that Ofwat’s powers should be greatly reduced due to its failure to manage water companies, as should those of the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England, and responsibilities should be devolved by region in England to deal with planning, funding and ensuring that the polluter pays; water companies themselves should be able to comment on proposed planning, give technical advice and object when there is insufficient capacity.