Vince Cable

Vincent Cable MP has welcomed the court ruling which prevents Thames Water from appealing against a council Odour Abatement Notice (from Hounslow Council). He has written to the Minister of State to clarify whether the Government regards the ruling as sufficient to establish a clear legal liability on water companies for curbing odour pollution; and to give direction to the water regulator OFWAT to approve substantial investment in odour control equipment in its current review of water companies.

Vincent Cable said: "This is potentially good news for thousands of residents in St Margaret's and North Twickenham - and even more in Hounslow - who continue to experience intolerable levels of smell. It appears to establish that Thames Water must comply with local authority anti-pollution notices. Richmond, as well as Hounslow, should now act on the powers that they have. However, I have written to the Minister today to establish definitively what the legal position now is and whether new legislation is necessary. I have also asked him to sort out the confusion around OFWAT, the water regulator, which is refusing at present to allow water companies to increase their prices to finance new investment for odour pollution reduction."