Celebrities to join Save Windermere march against sewage on 29th June
Save Windermere will march 1.5 miles on 29th June to protest against continuing sewage dumping in Windermere
Campaigners will be joined by celebrity guests Lee Mack and Steve Coogan, amongst others
All political candidates from across Cumbria have been invited
Save Windermere calls on the next government to implement a plan to completely remove sewage from Windermere in the next 10 years and provide greater protection for the lake
Members of the press are invited to attend the March to Save Windermere from 10am - 12pm on 29th June 2024. Attendees, organisers and special guests will be available for interview on the day upon advanced request.
Save Windermere is holding a march to protest against sewage pollution in England’s largest lake. The march will be attended by a host of celebrity guests, including Coogan and Mack who will once again join the campaign.
This comes just a year on from their demonstration attended by thousands, which elevated Windermere in the national conversation on sewage dumping in our waterways. The march, one week before the general election, is the latest call to action, as the campaign criticises the woefully inadequate plans to protect Windermere from all political parties.
Save Windermere has invited major political leaders and political candidates from across Cumbria, including Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, Green Party leaders Carla Denyer & Adrian Ramsay, and Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey. Both Labour and Lib Dem leaders have voiced their support for the campaign’s efforts over the last few weeks, with Ed Davey meeting Save Windermere during his recent visit to Windermere and Keir Starmer writing an opinion piece voicing his 'fury' at the treatment of this precious lake.
The march will begin at 10:00am outside United Utilities Information Centre on the main street in Windermere (8 Crescent Road, Windermere, LA23 1EA) and end at the lake shore on Glebe Road, Bowness. At the end of the march, there will be speeches from Save Windermere and other notable guests with local candidate being given the opportunity to say a few words.
This comes just weeks after the campaign group released their 10-point plan for a sewage free Windermere, detailing the steps required to safeguard England’s largest lake. The plan, which has been shared with all political parties ahead of the election and has been signed by thousands of people, highlights the urgent need for effective regulation, transparency, and a long-term infrastructural investment plan to remove sewage from Windermere, calling on the government to take decisive action.
The campaign recently called for greater protection for Windermere and have suggested the implementation of a novel Rights of Nature approach to give the lake legal personhood. If granted, these rights would include the right to exist and to evolve naturally, the right to protection, the right to conservation and the right to restoration.
An open letter, backed by notable names such as Chris Packham, Paul Whitehouse and organisations including Campaign for National Parks, WildFish, The Countryside Charity (CPRE), and the Wildlife Trusts, was sent to all political parties, demanding a commitment to grant the lake with greater protection and ensure it’s long-term health for future generations.
