Welsh Lib Dems Claim Campaign Win as Ofwat to Be Scrapped

Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, Cllr Sam Bennett, has welcomed the landmark recommendation to scrap Ofwat, the underperforming water regulator for England and Wales, a key Liberal Democrat policy the party has campaigned for over several years.

The proposal, published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, comes after years of Liberal Democrat campaigning against sewage dumping and weak oversight of the water industry. The Commission has called for the replacement of Ofwat, along with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Environment Agency powers, with a single, integrated water regulator for England and a new national body for Wales.

Sam Bennett, who has long championed cleaning up rivers in Gŵyr Abertawe, including the Tawe stated that this development is a major step forward in restoring trust in the water system. However, he warned that without firm action to end sewage pollution in Welsh waterways, the reforms would fall short of delivering real change.

For years, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been calling out the failures of water companies who have prioritised profit over public health and the environment. Rivers such as the Tawe are amongst the most sewage-polluted in the entire UK, something which the Lib Dems have regularly stated places local wildlife, public health and tourism at risk.

The Cunliffe review sets out 88 recommendations, including tighter rules on company ownership, mandatory water metering, and the creation of a new water ombudsman.

But the Welsh Lib Dems have stressed the importance of implementation and urgency, especially in Wales, given that the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay also hold significant powers over the sector and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water is the worst-performing water company of any in the entirety of the UK when it comes to sewage dumping.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also continued to express concern that Natural Resources Wales will be able to handle its new responsibilities, given that it has faced over 10 years of cuts from the Welsh Labour Government and is seriously understaffed.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, Cllr Sam Bennett said:

“Cleaning up our rivers has been one of my number one priorities and this is a big win for the Liberal Democrats who have led the campaign against the sewage scandal for years. Since 2022 we have called for Ofwat to be replaced with a tougher regulator, now finally the government appears to have listened.

“There's no doubt these major reforms would not be happening if it wasn't for our record general election win and the millions who voted for us last year.

“But the fight is far from over. Countless Welsh rivers are still being poisoned by raw sewage. Our communities deserve clean water, strong regulation and environmental justice, not more empty promises.

“We need immediate action, real investment in infrastructure, and assurances that Natural Resources Wales will be given the resources it needs to be able to put people and nature before profit. The Welsh Labour Government has so far failed to deliver this, and we will continue to push them to act.”