A new tougher watchdog could help clear up the state of rivers and streams around Bolton "for good”, a borough MP says.

This week the government announced a review of the water industry, which could abolish the current regulator Ofwat after long-running rows about bills and pollution.

Bolton West MP Phil Brickell, who made much of sewage dumping in Hall Lee Brook, Westleigh Brook and Pennington Flash at the last election, says water firms must be held to account.

He said: “As a whitewater kayaker, I've spent countless hours on rivers and streams up and down the country and I know that both the Environment Agency and Ofwat needs to be properly resourced if we're going to clear up the toxic legacy left by the last government in our waterways.”

He added: "Having already introduced tough new laws to hold water bosses criminally responsible for illegal sewage dumping, this new independent commission will help us take the necessary action to clean up our waterways for good."

Mr Brickell says he has long been focused on the state of the waterwaysMr Brickell says he has long been focused on the state of the waterways (Image: Office of Phil Brickell MP)

Water pollution has long been an issue across Bolton, with figures from the Rivers Trust showing sewage was dumped into waterways in the Bolton West area for 6,100 continuous hours in 2023.

Around 1,850 hours of sewage dumping went into Hall Lee Brook along that same year.

The review of the water sector, which the government says will be the largest since privatisation, will be chaired by former deputy governor of Bank of England Sir Jon Cunliffe.

It will focus on how the sector is regulated and could include wide-ranging changes to Ofwat and how it works with other watchdogs like the Environment Agency.

Ofwat chief executive David Black said: “We welcome the Water Commission’s review and look forward to being able to work with the government on the change that is needed to drive better outcomes for customers and the environment.

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“We are ready to back record investment, the challenge for water companies is to match that investment with the changes in company culture and performance that are essential to rebuilding the trust of customers and the public.”

But pro-public ownership campaigners say that the review does not go far enough by continuing with privatisation.

We Own It lead campaigner Matthew Topham said: “The review is deaf to the calls of the public, anti-sewage groups and the international community to wrestle with the root cause of the sewage crisis, privatisation.

“Without serious thought, this Labour government will be remembered for its re-privatisation of England’s water system, repeating a failed experiment which has been studiously avoided the world over.”