Lib Dem MPs Ian Sollom, Charlotte Cane and Pippa Heylings call for better protection of Cambridgeshire’s bathing sites

Shocking Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed that designated bathing sites have been subject to more than 1 million hours of sewage spills over the past five years in England.

MPs Charlotte Cane, Pippa Heylings and Ian Sollom have called for more to be done to protect people in Cambridgeshire as the weather warms up and this year's bathing water season is officially underway.

The official bathing water season, running from 15th May to 30th September, means regular quality testing will be carried out at designated sites.

Data from the Environment Agency has shown that water companies continue to dump untreated sewage across the country, with designated bathing sites in England seeing 145,606 hours (6,067 days) of sewage dumping in 2025.

This comes as the BBC reported that 12 out of the existing 14 bathing sites were rated ‘poor’ and should not be swum in.

The Environment Agency has rated the Sheep’s Green on the River Cam as ‘Poor’ for the last two years, and advised against swimming in the area.

Bathing sites have been subject to more than 1 million hours of sewage spills over the past five years in England, but without forcing water companies to report on spill volume, the true extent of sewage dumping is unknown.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to make water companies report on spill volume, rather than duration, to stop them deliberately obscuring the level of pollution they cause.

Last year, the Government announced plans to replace Ofwat but months later no steps have been taken to begin this process.

The Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for the immediate replacement of Ofwat with a stronger, more effective regulator -- the Clean Water Authority -- with powers to finally hold water companies to account.

Liberal Democrat MPs, Ian Sollom, Charlotte Cane, Pippa Heylings said:

"Families should be worrying about the weather, not sewage, before letting their children swim. It is disgraceful that for years, both Labour and the Conservatives have turned a blind eye while water companies pollute our rivers, lakes, and seas without consequence.

‘It’s an outright scandal that raw sewage is still flowing into our rivers and chalk streams.

“No more excuses, the Government must overhaul the regulator and clean up Cambridgeshire’s bathing sites immediately.”