Droughts show urgent need for water overhaul and farm reservoir expansion, say Lib Dems

Ahead of today's [Friday 16th October] ministerial statement on droughts, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson, Sarah Dyke MP, said:

"Communities across Southern England are paying the price for water companies' failures to fix leaks and invest in vital infrastructure. It's a disgrace that bill payers are shouldering the consequences of decades of underinvestment, while farmers risk being unable to access the water they need to feed the nation. We cannot rely on the weather to bail is us out this winter. 

"Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to introduce a national extreme weather emergency strategy, overhaul water company structure, and deliver a national "call to store" programme with far more support for on-farm reservoirs, to tackle widespread water insecurity and secure UK food production."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

"Call to store" proposal for agri-reservoirs available here.