Colchester Liberal Democrats have slammed Will Quince for voting against a compensation scheme for swimmers who get sick from sewage.

The amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, would have allowed anyone who gets sick as a result of illegal sewage dumping to claim compensation from water companies. However, it was voted down in the Commons this week after Conservative MPs, including Will Quince MP refused to support it.

It comes despite a recent report which found a staggering 1,924 cases of people getting sick due to suspected sewage pollution over the last year, nearly triple the number of cases reported in the previous year.

Martin Goss Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Colchester, said:

“It’s shameful that Will Quince and this Conservative government have once again put water companies’ profits before people’s health.

“It is a complete slap in the face to all those in Colchester who expect their MP to stand up and fight for them, instead of for massive companies who have dumped filthy sewage into our rivers and lakes.

Given that Anglian Water regularly discharges sewage into our local Colchester rivers and waterways enjoyed by many this is sickening! Over 100 hours or sewage has been discharged in Colchester.

It is a sad state of affairs when swimmers are falling seriously sick from sewage while water company bosses trouser millions in bonuses.

“The Liberal Democrats have exposed the sewage scandal and will continue to hold these polluting firms to account even if Will Quince refuses to.”

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