Bobby Dean MP calls out Environment Agency’s Failures

Bobby Dean, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, has called for a parliamentary debate on the effectiveness of the Environment Agency, following its repeated failures in responding to local environmental disasters.

The River Wandle Diesel Spill

Around this time last year, a serious diesel spill contaminated the River Wandle. Approximately 4,000 litres of diesel entered the water, believed to have come from a nearby bus garage. The Environment Agency was sent to investigate. Twelve months later, there is still no report, no conclusion, and no one held responsible.

“The Wandle is an important part of our local environmental heritage. Residents, anglers, and conservation groups care deeply about it, and they deserve answers. A year-long silence simply isn’t good enough,” said Dean. 

Incinerator Expansion Nobody Asked For

Dean also criticised the Environment Agency’s potential approval of the expansion of the Beddington Incinerator.

Incinerators, if well-regulated, should provide a better alternative to landfill. However, the local area already has sufficient capacity to deal with local waste at the facility and there have been recent concerns about the operator’s compliance with strict environmental standards.

Dean said, “Over the past 18 months, we’ve seen hundreds of emissions breaches. Despite these repeated failures, the Environment Agency has not imposed meaningful consequences on the operators. (The expansion) goes against my own longstanding opposition, the local authority’s position, and the Government’s publicly stated view that England has already reached incineration capacity.”

“If the Environment Agency cannot act decisively on major pollution incidents, then we need to know why. That’s why I called on the Leader of the House to organise a debate. My constituents deserve an Environment Agency that protects us, not one that leaves serious questions unanswered for months on end.” 

To read his full contribution follow the link here: Business of the House - Hansard - UK Parliament