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11
Dec 2021
Knaresborough 'bed race' protest against raw sewage being dumped into Nidd
A group pushed a bed through Knaresborough this morning to protest against water companies releasing raw sewage into the River Nidd.
Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full which can happen during increased rainfall.
A section of the Nidd is crossed by competitors in the annual Knaresborough bed race, so Jeremy Scott, who organised today's protest, wanted to take a bed from Conyngham Hall through the town to raise awareness.
Mike Kaye, who was on the protest, said:
Stray Ferret research has found that Yorkshire Water released raw and untreated sewage into Harrogate district rivers and becks on 3,800 different occasions last year for a total of 36,000 hours.
Read more:
- Raw sewage released into Harrogate district rivers for 36,000 hours last year
- Fears 4,000 new homes in Harrogate could increase sewage in rivers
- River Nidd a ‘potential health risk’ after MPs’ vote on sewage
In October there was anger after MPs, including local Conservative MPs Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams, voted to reject a Lords amendment to the Environment Bill to stop raw sewage from being pumped into rivers.
In November, MPs then voted in favour of another amendment to the bill that will legally require water firms to make a “progressive reduction” in the amount of sewage it dumps, but campaigners said this doesn't go far enough.
Mr Kaye wanted to raise awareness about the bill and put pressure on local MPs as well as Yorkshire Water to stop sewage from being released into local rivers.
He said:
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:
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