Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Crispin Blunt welcomes call for law to change and calls for relaxation of regulations on water companies

Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, today welcomed the Ten-Minute Rule Motion placed before the House of Commons by former Environment Minister, John Gummer MP. In a speech to the House of Commons Mr Gummer put forward a series of proposals that would oblige developers to assess the impact of new housing on the water supply. The speech came on the day that much of the South-East learnt that it faced the worst drought in decades.

The impact of new housing on the water supply has been consistently over-looked despite contributing to the current water crisis. One of the reasons for this is that whereas rainwater falling in the south would previously have drained into the water table, as more and more of the region has been developed rainwater runs off roads and pavements into drains rather than into the underground water supply. For similar reasons flooding has been worse in times of wet weather as run-off has flowed straight into streams and rivers as development has reduced the number of fields and green spaces.

In his speech Mr Gummer was supported by two former Labour environment ministers, Michael Meacher MP and Elliot Morley MP.

Crispin Blunt commented on hearing the speech:

“I am delighted that someone as well-respected on environmental issues as John Gummer has taken this opportunity to highlight something of critical importance to my constituents and that he has received senior cross-party support. Increased housing has effected local infrastructure at many levels – today we see the effect on the water supply. Future development must take this effect into account, as set out in the provisions of John Gummer’s motion.”

At the same time Crispin Blunt praised the local water supplier for planning ahead and obtaining powers to restrict water usage should it prove necessary. The Environment Agency is pressing other water companies in the South to seek these powers. Sutton and East Surrey appear to be ahead of the game and they should have credit for this.

Crispin Blunt also made clear that the regulatory environment imposed by the Government had prevented the necessary investment required in the water infrastructure.

Crispin Blunt added:  “By over-controlling decisions relating to pricing and investment, the Government’s water regulator has prevented Sutton and East Surrey Water from delivering for their customers. Frankly I trust the water company to better get the balance right between prices and investment in infrastructure than the Government’s regulator. We must face up to the necessary investment to provide water in an era of climate change. Overdevelopment is plainly the wrong policy in the current environment.”