The Save Windermere campaign urgently demands an immediate independent public inquiry into the failure of water industry regulation by the Environment Agency in the Cumbria and Lancashire Area. The inquiry should focus on the regulation of United Utilities within the Windermere catchment in the Lake District National Park.

Save Windermere is demanding a re-opening of the Cunsey Beck fish kill investigation in light of evidence obtained through Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) requests which highlighted the inadequacies of the investigation.

Save Windermere calls for the Cunsey Beck fish kill investigation to be reopened by the Environment Agency, considering the revelations exposed in BBC Panorama documentary.

The Environment Agency failed to visit 90 per cent of toxic water spills last year, including more than 60 per cent of the most serious incidents. There has been a major drop off in in-person inspections of water pollution incidents since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Environment Agency failing to attend most cases.

Save Windermere’s response to the Love Windermere partnership’s stakeholder workshop in November 2023.

The Save Windermere campaign is featured in an upcoming Panorama investigative documentary, titled “The Water Pollution Cover-Up”, airing on BBC1, Monday 4th December at 8pm. 

The amount of work needed to make Windermere sewage-free has been revealed for the first time. The Save Windermere campaign, led by Matt Staniek, has called for all sewage outputs in the lake to be removed similar to Lake Annecy in France.

Fiona Marley Paterson covers United Utilities drop-in sessions on ITV Border and questions United Utilities over sewage spills seen on the same day at Ferry House WwTW.

Like Greta Thunberg’s first climate strike five years ago, Matt Staniek’s first “sewage strike” was a low key affair. While setting up a folding table outside a water firm’s office in Windermere last week, a bypasser stopped by. “Hey mate, I support ya, but you’re causing a health and safety issue there,” he told Staniek.

Suspected illegal dumping of raw sewage into Windermere took place on up to 70 days in 2022, a year in which campaigners said the lake had its worst summer of harmful algal blooms, according to analysis of data released under environmental information rules.

Save Windermere EIR requests uncover illegality within Windermere catchment. Illegal spilling in 2022 on 15 days at Ambleside, 21 days at Near Sawrey, up to 12 days at Grasmere, and between 10 and 22 days at Hawkshead. OFWAT and Environment Agency must urgently act to enforce law against water companies. Water companies, not customers, must pay to end illegal sewage discharges.

Save Windermere campaigner Matt Staniek has begun a weekly protest outside United Utilities' Windermere Information Centre. Matt Staniek told ITV Border, "This is my version of a peaceful protest, very much inspired by Greta Thunberg and what she did for the climate strike for a future.