I’M pleased to see the public outrage over Tory attempts to allow utility companies to continue dumping untreated sewage into our waterways has forced them to back down and support tightening the legislation.

Clearly the chief whip remembered there’s a few by-elections coming up, such is the cynical way these people operate.

Now comes the problem of how to enforce the legislation after it gets passed.

Our infrastructure has been unable to cope since long before Brexit - which has nothing to do with the issue whatsoever.

The problem is one of volume which current infrastructure isn’t designed for. The solution is a combination of increasing capacity and stopping the source getting worse.

The source being rather obvious, the ever expanding size of our towns and cities. Infrastructure unable to cope should be a prime reason for blocking the reckless expansion of houses into our green belt, a reason unelected and unaccountable planning inspectors should not be able to ignore when overturning democratic decisions by local authorities in favour of wealthy development companies looking for a quick profit of their own.

You can’t legislate the turds away unless its accompanied by joined up thinking from town planners, something we’re not going to get from the current crop of incompetent armchair civil servants.

Dr Scott Marmion,

Woodthorpe,

York

...In The Press 28 October, Councillor Christian Vassie yet again blames Brexit for environmental problems caused by water companies discharging sewage into water courses and the sea.

However, Councillor Vassie, never one to let a few facts get into the way of his opinion, might like to comment on the fact that 71 per cent of UK water companies are owned by overseas interests.

German and French governments, banks, hedge funds, and wealthy individuals and companies based in tax havens.

All of whom have more interest in money rather than the environment.

Trevor Scott,

Danebury Crescent,

York

...I TOO was horrified to read of the disgusting practice of releasing raw sewage into our rivers and seas - 400,000 times last year - but I don’t think you can castigate the local Tory MPs, Sturdy, Hollinrake and Adams (The Press October 26).

How could they have not voted against the environment bill when the remedial cost is £650 billion.

I can’t believe that in 2021 we are in this third world situation and the blame must surely be laid at the private water companies for a serious dereliction of duty. Make them pay in huge fines.

What have they being doing for the last 30 years (or not doing) apart from ripping us all off and paying shareholders £60bn and management exorbitant salaries.

I remember the furore 40 years ago when sewage was pumped into the sea at Scarborough and before as a lad in the sea at Filey.

We led the world when Sir Joseph Bazalgette created the London sewage system in Victorian times.

We need Bazalgette’s vision and action that’s fit for purpose today.

Keith Massey

Bishopthorpe, York

...I FIND it utterly disgraceful, the amount of (reportedly) raw sewage being pumped into our waterways on a daily basis. Sometimes for weeks on end.

This is happening all over the country. This is something that has to stop. The water firms state that the cost of upgrading the system is prohibitive. It will cost literally billions of pounds.

My solution is quite simple. Scrap the HS2 and hey presto, there you go, as if by magic, you have your billions. Now there's a novel idea.

Stop polluting my country.

Mick Horsman,

Moorland Road,

York