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Flowing Funds to Freshen up the Rivers:
British MPs are urging that fines collected from water companies that pollute rivers should be legally earmarked to restore water quality. The UK Treasury is currently trying to take control of £11 million in fines from water companies. This money was originally allocated for small charities to restore rivers.
The Struggle for Control:
The Liberal Democrat MP, Tim Farron, is trying to guard this water restoration fund and ensure fines collected in the future from water companies will be used to restore the river environment. This move comes in response to the Treasury's attempt to seize control of the fund. The possibility of the fund being depleted and the money absorbed by the Treasury has deeply troubled environmental charities.
Hope on the Horizon:
Furthermore, there is a proposed amendment by Farron that would prevent bill payers from bailing out failing water companies, such as Thames Water, which is on the brink of bankruptcy due to a massive £15 billion debt. If it goes into special administration, customers may be at risk of higher bills to cover Thames’s debts. Farron's proposed amendment would protect customers by allowing up to 100% of debts to be cancelled in the event of special administration proceedings.
The Call of the Public:
In related news, a petition signed by 34,000 people has been handed to the environment secretary. The petition calls for Thames Water to be moved into public ownership. The outcome of this high court hearing will decide the company's future and potentially protect the resources of millions of customers across London and south-east England.
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