Giant sand drawing of the PM appears on Burnham-on-Sea beach
Campaign group 38 Degrees made the drawing to raise awareness of sewage in the UK.
Last updated 2 hours ago
A sand drawing of Prime Minister Andy Burnham appeared on the beach at Burnham-on-Sea this morning. Campaign group 38 Degrees were behind it, as they try to draw attention to sewage problems in the UK.
They're calling on the PM to bring water back into public ownership. They have a petition signed by 144,442 voters backing the demand.
The huge sand art design was made by sand artists Sand In Your Eye for 38 Degrees. The image is designed to highlight water companies pumping sewage into the UK's rivers and seas. According to 38 Degrees, it took two hours to make and will wash away with the tide.
A poll of the public conducted for 38 Degrees taken when Andy Burnham took office showed that 57% of the public want water companies brought back into public ownership, with profits legally reinvested into infrastructure. The poll also showed that just 8% want to leave the current private system as it is.
Veronica Hawking, Campaigns Director at 38 Degrees, said:
"The public are quite rightly furious about the state of this country’s water industry. Every year our bills go up, while the companies taking our money pump sewage into our rivers and seas and hand out millions to shareholders. Enough is enough."
"That's why, ahead of the bank holiday weekend, when our British seasides are at their busiest, we’ve carved the Prime Minister's face into the sand at his namesake town, Burnham-on-Sea."
"This art work which was paid for by members of the public chipping in a few pounds each, and carries the message of the 144,442 people who have signed our petition sends a message to the PM that he can’t miss: bring water back into public ownership now!”