Chippenham MP hits out at Thames Water after record £123m fine
Sarah Gibson said "enough is enough" after the water company was fined
The MP for Chippenham has hit out at Thames Water after the water supplier was given a £123 million fine.
Sarah Gibson, from the Liberal Democrats, said that Thames Water had been "failing to invest, maintain and deliver for years" - after it was given the fine for repeated sewage spills.
The supplier was given the fine from water regulator Ofwat, who ruled that Thames Water cannot pass the fine onto its customers.
Speaking on the decision, Gibson said: "Meanwhile, people in Royal Wootton Bassett have been slapped with high bills, poor service, and environmental harm from Thames Water’s failure to get to grips with their sewage crisis.
"When people here are struggling with the cost of living, Thames Water hikes bills by 35% and the company still fights the regulator for more. Enough is enough. It is time to take water services out of the hands of shareholders and put the public first."
There have now been calls for Thames Water should be brought under public control in order to improve the service of the supplier.
A report into the workings of Thames Water found that it had failed to maintain its treatment centres properly in order to create an effective drainage system for its catchment area.
They also added that its storm overflows were regularly used in order to maintain its supply, despite the overflow areas only needing to be used in "exceptional circumstances".