During Conservative Party Conference, Richard Fuller met with Anglian Water executives to press the case for improvements in North Bedfordshire.
Speaking afterwards, Richard said:
Top of our discussion list were the impacts of two significant new proposals for Bedfordshire: Universal Studios and the new town at Tempsford. These will both put significant pressure on water resources. For example it is estimated that Universal alone will require a 50% increase in the capacity of the Bedford sewage works, and the new town would be built on and around a designated flood plain.
I was pleased to hear Anglian Water’s full commitment to the North Bedfordshire Water Management Partnership and the data driven approach to improving the quality of water in the River Ouse. I believe Anglian Water will do their bit and I will continue to hold them to account to do so.
But the discussion also reminded me of the poor state of regulation in our country. Some years ago I called for a system to “regulate the regulators” to make sure they were performing well. OFWAT, the water regulator, has faced considerable criticism and I support the Cunliffe Review into OFWAT ordered by this Government and I agree with the report’s recommendations.
Of particular relevance to us in North Bedfordshire is the recommendation that would give more flexibility to water companies for investing outside a five year plan. If we are to have infrastructure in place in time for Universal and ahead of dropping 40,000 homes on the good people of Tempsford, organisations like Anglian Water need the ability to get going now.
