Save Windermere campaigners will be protesting outside one of United Utilities’ new bases indefinitely.
Every Monday from 9am to 10am at least one member of the campaign team will be outside the water firm’s new information centre in Windermere.
They will be joined by guests who are supporting the campaign’s call to end all sewage discharge in the Windermere catchment.
The first day of protesting took place on Monday November 6 and campaign founder Matt Staniek said the action will continue until United Utilities make a commitment to stop the discharge.
Matt added: “Past investment has always been about reducing inputs, but we’re demanding complete removal. Not enough has been done to ensure the long-term protection of Windermere.
Stop putting sh*t in our lake.
— MattStaniek (@MattStaniek) November 6, 2023
The message is simple. I will be outside United Utilities information centre every Monday from 9am – 10am until a commitment is made to stop putting sewage into Windermere.
We already have those wanting to join the strike so please head to… pic.twitter.com/Qyf2PrRxRB
“As the lake serves as the terminal basin for inputs in the catchment, pollution has accumulated here for decades. This isn’t acceptable, and we must safeguard this lake for our nation’s future.
“Instead of United Utilities investing in an information centre and returning £300 million to their shareholders last year they should be investing in their infrastructure.”
He has also invited Greta Thunberg and former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey, who is an outspoken water pollution activist, to join him in the weekly protest.
A United Utilities spokesman said: “Our Windermere information centre has been open for three months and it’s been great to meet with so many of our customers and visitors to the area.
“We’ve welcomed many visitors through the door to help with their queries on everything from water meters and bills to our recent and forthcoming investment around Windermere and wider Cumbria.
“Over the last 20 years we have invested more than £75 million improving our wastewater services around Windermere which has halved the levels of phosphorus entering the lake from our systems since 2015.
“We have plans to invest a further £41 million up to 2030, part of a record £13.7 billion programme across the North West. These plans have been shaped after consulting with our customers to tackle the issues that matter most to them right across the region we serve.
“We will also be holding drop in events later this month so that people can find out more about the specific improvement work we have planned for Windermere over the next two years.
“These are between 2pm to 7pm on Monday 20 November at Hawkshead Market Hall, Hawkshead; Tuesday 21 November at Marchesi Centre, Windermere; and Wednesday 22 November, Ambleside Parish Centre, Ambleside.”
United Utilities has been working with the Love Windermere partnership in a bid to increase its available data and evidence on the situation and added that it is making an early start on reducing storm overflow operations – which leads to sewage discharge – at four locations around the lake.
The water firm has also said the factors affecting water quality in Windermere are complex and require targeted action from multiple sectors in order for changes to take place.
