WE CALL FOR THE CABINET OFFICE TO RESCIND THE DAMAGING APPOINTMENT TO LORD LIEUTENANT FOR SOMERSET OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR POLLUTER WESSEX WATER  AND, INSTEAD, APPOINT SOMEONE WITH REAL GREEN CREDENTIALS.

Recently, the Cabinet Office appointed a new Lord Lieutenant for Somerset who is the Executive Director for Operations at Wessex Water. He could remain in the post for 10 years.

In 2021, Natural England declared that the Somerset Levels and Moors SSSI were in a poor state due to phosphates pollution - much from poor wastewater treatment and sewage overflows into Somerset's waterways and rivers managed by Wessex Water.

This ‘unfavourable declining’ designation has severely limited the new homes that can be built in Somerset and thereby damaged the local economy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/action-needed-to-fix-somerset-levels-and-moors-phosphate-level

"The primary sources of phosphates are from agricultural activities and water industry discharges at locations like wastewater treatment works."

Three storm overflows that discharge into the Levels (Wookey, Norton Fitzwarren and Bradford on Tone) ran for the equivalent of 100 days continuously (ie more than 2,400 hours in the year)!

The new Lord Lieutenant as Executive Director for Operations has overall responsibility for Wessex Water wastewater treatment and these polluting discharges. Last year, despite the polluting actions of Wessex Water, he received a bonus of £165,000 in addition to a handsome salary - all paid from your water rates.

Not one Somerset river has a safe bathing designation. 

Recently Somerset County Council (SCC) declared an "ecological emergency":

Cllr Wyke makes clear the council’s support for the protection of the unique environment of the Somerset Levels: “SCC is acutely aware of the impact of pollution on our local environment. We recently declared an ecological emergency in the county. We are also, however, aware of the devastating impact of the current lack of investment by water and sewage companies on the provision of new homes in the county… New housing is a minimal contributor to nutrient levels but is being disproportionately impacted by the issue."