The Independent: Government vows to clean up Lake Windermere after beauty spot ‘choked’ by pollution
Environment secretary Steve Reed has vowed to ensure ‘only rainwater’ enters England’s largest lake
The government will pledge to “clean up Windermere” and ensure “only rainwater” enters the polluted English beauty spot.
Environment secretary Steve Reed and water minister Emma Hardy will be in Windermere on Monday as part of a Things Can Only Get Cleaner tour, to see where investment in water infrastructure will underpin the building of new homes, create jobs and boost local economies.
Windermere, part of the Lake District National Park Unesco World Heritage Site, is home to more than 14,000 people. Its scenery, rare species and cultural heritage attract seven million visitors per year, generating £750 million for the local economy.
“Windermere is a stunningly beautiful national treasure – but it’s being choked by unacceptable levels of sewage pollution,” Mr Reed said.
The commitment to “stop all sewage going into the lake” will form part of the Plan for Change scheme to upgrade the crumbling water infrastructure and boost economic growth using more than £100 billion of private investment.
Local groups and organisations have set up a feasibility study to look into what is needed to eliminate sewage discharges into the lake and draw on successful examples and innovation from around the world.
The study has been set up by the Only Rainwater coalition, which includes United Utilities, the Environment Agency, Ofwat, Save Windermere, Love Windermere, the Lake District National Park authority and Westmorland and Furness Council.
