<\/p>\n
\n The celebrities joined campaigners at a “stop the sewage” demonstration in Leysdown-on-Sea, Kent, supporting a petition that has gathered more than 315,000 signatures in favour of public ownership.\n<\/p>\n
\n Dani Dyer, a former Love Island winner, took a break from her Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals to attend the event alongside her father and other activists.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ed Acteson, co-founder of SOS Whitstable and creator of the petition, said: “The public has had enough of being asked to accept polluted waterways, failing infrastructure and rising bills while shareholders and senior executives continue to be rewarded.\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE: Council faces formal objection letter over school streets scheme\n<\/p>\n
\n Danny Dyer, Dani Dyer and singer Becky Hill with water campaigners at SOS Whitstable’s Stop the Sewage protest at Leysdown-on-Sea in Sheerness, Kent, calling for the water industry to be returned to public ownership following a petition signed by more than 316,000 people. (Image: Jim Bennett\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n
\n “Water is an essential public service, not a vehicle for private profit.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We want an industry run in the interests of people and the environment, with its income reinvested in the system rather than extracted from it.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Cliff Roney, a GMB activist who has worked in the water industry for more than 40 years, said the sector is in crisis.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Roney said: “I have seen this industry at its very best and now at its very worst.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Infrastructure is falling to pieces, there has been a lack of maintenance and investment, no reservoirs are being built, and staff are on their knees trying to keep the system running.\n<\/p>\n
\n “If the industry is not brought back into public ownership quickly, we are heading towards a national catastrophe.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The rally comes amid mounting pressure on the Government to reject a \u00a310 billion rescue deal for Thames Water, backed by a consortium of more than 100 creditors, and instead return the company to public control.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee warned that the proposed takeover prioritises “short-term value extraction” over long-term stability.\n<\/p>\n
\n Alistair Carmichael, chairman of the Efra Committee, said: “We believe Thames Water can be turned around, but not by giving the keys back to the people who have been joy riding in the family car.\n<\/p>\n
\n Danny Dyer (centre) and Dani Dyer with water campaigners at SOS Whitstable’s Stop the Sewage protest at Leysdown-on-Sea in Sheerness, Kent, calling for the water industry to be returned to public ownership following a petition signed by more than 316,000 people. (Image: Jim Bennett)\n<\/p>\n
\n “The Government should reject offers from the company\u2019s creditors in return for relief from fines for pollution and poor service.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We do not believe this opaque consortium of 100 hedge funds and others has the interests of the public, the company or the environment at heart.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Carmichael said the company is likely to enter special administration once its funding runs out at the end of the year.\n<\/p>\n
\n Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously called for a 10-year plan to renationalise the water industry, but the Government has yet to confirm whether Thames Water will be brought back into public ownership.\n<\/p>\n
\n A Thames Water spokesperson said: \u201cThames Water needs to be recapitalised and put on a firm financial footing\u2026 anything that delays the recapitalisation risks slowing the turnaround.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
#Danny #Dyer #Becky #Hill #public #ownership #water #companies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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