Luke Taylor MP, Liberal Democrat London Spokesperson and MP for Sutton and Cheam, used a debate he secured in Parliament to slam Thames Water over severe disruptions they have caused in the north of Southwark.

This comes after Cllr Adam Hood, Liberal Democrat councillor in Surrey Docks, wrote to TfL and Thames Water demanding answers as residents were left blindsided by unannounced emergency works by the water company.

In March, emergency works led to the only bus services connecting the Rotherhithe peninsula to the rest of Southwark being diverted, with no physical signage leaving some residents waiting for busses that would never arrive. The works ended up taking a week longer than anticipated.

The Liberal Democrats reflected resident’s fury, and asked Thames Water to commit to working with TfL and the council to ensure that residents are fully communicated with when these works happen in the future. They also say that the management of high-risk infrastructure in the area is being left to ad-hoc emergency works rather than having a long term plan to get the facilities up to scratch.

From the 1st April, some Thames Water customers will have seen their bills increased by an inflation-busting 35%.

In his speech in the House of Commons, Luke Taylor MP said:

“When I think about the performance of Thames Water, I imagine the very excrement it fails to manage.
[…]
Thames Water’s problems come from its failure to update its outdated, mostly Victorian infrastructure. High risk infrastructure is left to ad-hoc fixes, with zero communication to residents. The company’s approach to fixing water facilities in Southwark in London is a prime example of this reckless approach”

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Surrey Docks Cllr Adam Hood added:

“Residents have been rightly furious at Thames Water’s egregious disruptions, and their joint failure with TfL to communicate in good time about disruptions happening their area. The fact that they took 2 days to even tell the council, and provided no physical signage for residents, is unacceptable.

I’m pleased to see Liberal Democrat MPs raise this directly in Parliament. Our Labour Council and Government are too soft on these private monopolies who are giving out millions in dividends whilst jacking up prices for customers with promises of upgrades that are either poorly managed or never appear.

The Liberal Democrats have a plan to end the sewage scandal and create a water regulator with teeth that can end this unfairness once and for all.”