Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, backs a bill to tackle water pollution and improve water quality.
Bournemouth: On January 28, Tom Hayes, the MP for Bournemouth East, voted for the Water (Special Measures) Bill. This was during its second reading in the House of Commons.
He was one of the few MPs on the bill committee. They looked closely at the legislation, examining it clause by clause.
The bill aims to hold water company leaders accountable. It plans to impose criminal charges, ban bonuses for offenders, and set up independent monitoring with sensors at every outlet.
In his speech, Mr. Hayes highlighted two major investments in Bournemouth’s water system. These investments total £230 million and follow his visits to two water treatment plants.
Mr. Hayes stated, “I inspected this bill to make it tough on polluting bosses. Our water system needs investment, and Bournemouth is leading the way.”
He added, “With £230 million, drinking water quality will improve, and pollution levels will drop.”
During his visits, he saw the efforts to fix water issues. He emphasized the need for the rest of the country to catch up with Bournemouth’s progress.
At Alderney, Mr. Hayes toured a state-of-the-art treatment facility. Alderney is set to provide enhanced water supply by March 2025.
This facility will use advanced ceramic membrane treatment for better drinking water quality. It serves about 375,000 customers, covering nearly 75% of Bournemouth Water’s area.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed praised the investments. He noted, “Tom Hayes is a champion for cleaning up the water and beaches in Bournemouth.”
