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02
Oct
Extinction Rebellion hold protest at River Nidd over sewage discharges
Extinction Rebellion held a protest at the River Nidd this past week over sewage discharges into the river.
Climate activists from Harrogate, Ilkley, and Leeds dressed as “Blue Water Rebels” and Neptune carried a banner which read “Water is Life, Love your River” down Waterside in Knaresborough as part of the demonstration.
The demonstrators then made a vow of commitment to the river and read a poem that described the importance of water in the landscape before offering the Nidd some flowers.
Members of the public were also invited to offer some flowers into the river and make a vow of commitment alongside the activists.
The move comes as sewage discharges into the UK’s rivers have come under the political spotlight in recent years. Water companies have made an estimated 994,499 sewage discharges into rivers and other water bodies in 2024.
Yorkshire Water has also been criticised for discharges into the region's rivers.
Cllr Arnold Warneken, Green Party councillor for Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, said the demonstration was a way of raising awareness of the issue.
He said:
People do not mind paying taxes and levies if they're getting something in exchange, but quite rightly protest when they are paying for a service and not getting it.
It’s up to us to force their hand, by showing just how angry the UK public is about our sewage filled rivers and rip-off bills. So a peaceful protest raising awareness and empowering the public as the Blue Rebels did on Saturday is a great way of achieving this aim.
Meanwhile, Cllr Shan Oakes, Green Party councillor on Knaresborough Town Council, said:
It felt good to be doing something which raised the profile of the river. It felt life-affirming, (in the context of so much in the world being destructive and doom-laden) and it was lovely that most people seemed to appreciate it and there were many supportive comments by passers by.
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