Over 1,000 people joined a march in the Lake District to demand greater protection for Windermere.
Actress Alison Steadman and comedians Lee Mack and Steve Coogan attended the march on Saturday, organised by campaign group Save Windermere.
The march started at 10am outside the United Utilities Information Centre on Crescent Road, Windermere, and ended 1.5 miles down the road at the lake shore on Glebe Road, Bowness.
Over 50 volunteer stewards oversaw the procession as participants filled the pavements, holding placards and banners.
Speeches were delivered by a student from Barrow’s Chetwynde School, Raffy Johnston, along with Steve Coogan and Save Windermere founder, Matt Staniek at the end of the march, emphasising the urgent need for stronger environmental protection measures.
Raffy’s teacher Emma Lashmar said the youngster was invited to speak by the organisers following a school trip to an earlier event as part of a project to learn about the environment and campaigning through persuasive writing.
“Matt was so impressed with his speech last week, when we went up to the small protest, he asked that Raffy join them on stage and read out his speech to the thousands who attended,” she said.
“Raffy spoke at length and in detail about the crisis facing Windermere, and did thorough research to ensure that his speech was accurate, informative and powerful. He got the biggest cheer of the day! Steve Coogan told Raffy that he was brave to address the crowd of over a thousand people and Lee Mack told him that his speech was very inspiring.”
Matt said: ““Windermere has been exploited for decades – sewage has been dumped in its waters, and a regulator has failed to protect it. Not only is the resident community demanding urgent action for the long-term protection of the lake, but there is also now an overwhelming amount of support from local businesses who see the need to secure the lake’s future for the viability of the local economy.
“Everyone is now calling for the same thing – a complete end to sewage pollution in Windermere. No more tinkering around the edges ‘reducing input’; it’s about protecting our lake forever.”
The speakers called for immediate action from the next government to implement a comprehensive plan to eliminate all sewage discharges into Windermere over the next 10 years and to enhance the legal protections for the lake.
The campaign has issued a 10-point plan for a sewage-free lake.
