MPs Demand Action Against Thames Water Pollution

Bracknell and Reading MPs have criticised Thames Water in parliament over sewage releases across Berkshire. The government says it will bring in a tougher regulator via a Clean Water bill, while local residents are pushing for accountability.

Bracknell MP Peter Swallow said: "Thames Water was responsible for a third of all major pollution incidents in 2025."

He added: "Now its creditors want to jack up my constituents' bills, delay improvements to infrastructure and dodge future fines."

Reading MP Matt Rodda said: "My constituents are appalled by the sewage pollution in the River Thames and by the poor quality of customer service offered by Thames Water."

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds promised the Clean Water bill and a new supervisory regime to hold firms to account. She warned: "What we have seen up until now, is the shift we saw 15 years ago towards a system where companies were basically marking their own homework."

She added: "That cannot be right; that is not a proper regulatory system. That is just laissez-faire and letting companies get away with the sorts of pollution incidents that we have seen."

Locally, a Bracknell e-petition calling for urgent action to stop pollution of The Cut has more than 200 signatures. It accuses businesses of toxic discharges, foaming, harm to aquatic life and contamination of the water table, and says habitats for protected wildlife are being damaged.

The petition states: "We demand absolute accountability and statutory law enforcement from our governing authorities to protect Bracknell's environment." It runs until 20 December 2026 and can be signed on the Bracknell Forest Council website: democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=78

Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter