Wessex Water's apology is far too late after years of sewage scandal Somerton & Frome Liberal Democrats have called for Wessex Water to be overhauled following an overdue apology for sewage dumping. In a statement issued through Water UK today, water and sewage companies admitted to dragging their heels on taking action to stop sewage discharges into our coastlines, rivers and lakes.

In the wake of this announcement, local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Sarah Dyke says the apology is far too late, and that it is meaningless unless the firm is completely reformed.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for water firms to become "public benefit companies," making environmental goals more important than profits, and making it compulsory for environmental experts to sit on their company boards. This would put an end to billions of pounds being wasted in dividends whilst sewage destroys waterways. Somerton & Frome Liberal Democrats are also demanding an apology from the Government for voting down tougher action on water firms.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Somerton & Frome, Sarah Dyke said: "This announcement is too little too late after years of putting public health at risk and large-scale environmental damage, which has previously been arrogantly dismissed by the water industry.

"This apology means nothing unless the firm is completely reformed from top to bottom. Protecting the environment should be more important than making overseas investors rich. Sadly, Wessex Water still has their priorities all wrong.

"To add insult to injury, this Conservative Government have spent recent years voting down tougher action on polluting water firms. They too owe people an apology."

• A new Environmental hub, launching next year, will for the first time give everyone near real-time information on overflows, as well as the state of our rivers and coastal waters. • Companies will also support up to 100 communities to create new protected waters for swimming and recreation.