Lib Dem MPs force vote to create Blue Flag Status to protect local chalk streams

24 April 2025

Victoria Collins MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, has voted for a Liberal Democrat proposal to create a Blue Flag Status to protect chalk streams and other rivers from filthy sewage dumping. 

The status - if accepted - would entrench obligations on water companies to maintain the quality, safety standards and role of such waterways in enriching biodiversity, including through compliance checks. Water companies could therefore be held to account for upholding this, and ending sewage discharges.

Whilst the proposal was voted down by the Labour government, the Liberal Democrats vowed to fight on by confirming they would table amendments to the government’s new water laws at the next opportunity. 

Victoria has long been advocating for a Blue Flag status for precious chalk streams, including through her Bill: the Rivers, Streams and Lakes (Protected Status) Bill, which is returning to Parliament on 16 May 2025. She is urging the government to rethink their reluctance and finally back this change.

In yesterday’s debate, Victoria raised the importance of this:

“My hon. Friend talks about overwhelmed sewage works. The Markyate sewage works in my constituency has now had 3,000 hours of non-stop overflow, including sewage, which enters our precious chalk streams. Does she agree that that is why it is so important that we have blue flag status to increase the responsibility and accountability of water companies, which should not take our chalk streams for granted?”

Following the debate, she added:

“The volume of sewage being dumped into the River Ver from Markyate shows just how desperately we need a protected status for such waterways. Throughout my time as an MP I’ve been pushing for this, and I’ll continue to do so.

“Water companies are, quite frankly, getting away with destroying precious waterways every day. It’s undeniable that we need stronger, firmer action to hold them to account.

“This is what our Liberal Democrat motion aimed to achieve, but the opportunity to do this was squandered by the government. They must rethink this, and give our valuable waterways - locally and nationwide - the robust protections they desperately need.”