There should be a new protected status for rivers and marine protected areas, a York Lib Dem election candidate has said.
It comes shocking figures reveal that Yorkshire Water dumped sewage 809 times in York Outer in 2023.
Analysis of official data from the Environment Agency by the Liberal Democrats shows that Yorkshire Water discharged sewage in York Outer’s waterways for a 6,530 hours in 2023.
The Liberal Democrats have promised to expand marine protected areas and introduce a new Blue Flag status for rivers if they are elected.
The introduction of Blue Flag status would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping in those sites, giving special protected status for swimmers and wildlife.
Andrew Hollyer, Liberal Democrat candidate for York Outer, said: “York’s precious rivers have been destroyed after years of a Conservative government letting water firms get away with environmental vandalism.
“It is time we got tough on polluting and profiteering water firms, yet Conservative MPs have stood by whilst swimmers have become ill and wildlife killed by sewage discharges.
“This scandal has to end now. The Conservative party has failed to protect swimmers and wildlife.
“The Liberal Democrats will have the boldest manifesto on cleaning up our rivers and coastlines. Families should be free to swim safely in the knowledge that our waters are not polluted with sewage.”