Council calls for Thames Water to be brought into a special administration regime (SAR)

The Council debated the current performance of Thames Water in the lead up to the vote, noting the ongoing significant discharges of raw sewage into waterways across the district and the recent burst water main that left thousands of households without water.  

The motion put forward in Council highlights the dangers posed by raw sewage including pathogens such as E.coli and Hepatitis A, which can pose serious risks to human health.  

It also noted the recent ‘Dirty Business’ programme shown on Channel 4 which showed in impact of the pollution on waterways in West Oxfordshire. 

Cllr Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, said:  

“The Council has already been taking action to tackle the issue of untreated sewage discharges. Many of the 20 sewage treatment works in West Oxfordshire regularly operate beyond capacity, with over 27,000 hours of raw sewage discharged from Thames Water storm overflow tanks in 2024.  

“Moreover, many sewage treatment works spill sewage illegally during dry weather conditions. Residents also experience sewage spills across the district, affecting homes, gardens, fields and public spaces.” 

The Council to date has been: 

• Meeting regularly with Thames Water to discuss issues of infrastructure shortfalls and sewage spills on land  
• Pressing Thames Water for urgent infrastructure investments  
• Introducing Council-controlled Grampian planning conditions so new homes cannot be occupied until sewage upgrades are completed and operational  
• Engaging with national regulators for stronger oversight  
• Working closely with local experts, partnerships, community groups and MPs, and pushing for accountability  
• Hosting our annual Waterways Fair to bring residents, experts and campaigners together to raise awareness and strengthen the campaign to get our rivers clean  
• Publishing Guidelines on how the Council will deal with planning applications in areas lacking adequate sewerage infrastructure 

Following the Council vote, the Leader of the Council will now write to the Prime Minister calling for Thames Water to be brought into special administration and that no dividends or bonuses should be paid by Thames Water to shareholders and management. 

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, said: 

“The Council has made it clear that we feel that Thames Water is not meeting it duties and is failing our communities and the environment.  

“We feel the only answer is for Thames Water to be brought into special administration to ensure that bills our residents pay are spent on the vital investment our water and sewage infrastructure needs.  

“We will also request the government steps in to stop private investors and senior managers from financially benefitting while the company continues to fail its customers.” 

Councillor Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, said:  

“We have been clear that new development must go hand in hand with the infrastructure needed to support it. That is why we have published clear guidance on how planning applications will be assessed in areas where sewerage capacity is already under pressure. 

“Through our validation requirements, we are ensuring developers provide robust evidence that the sewage network can cope. Where it cannot, we may use planning conditions to make sure homes are not occupied until the necessary upgrades are in place. 

“This is about protecting both new and existing residents, as well as our environment. We want to see sustainable growth in West Oxfordshire, but that must not come at the cost of worsening sewage spills or placing further strain on an already overstretched system.”