Message in a bottle: Council joins students in urgent call for action to save England’s rivers

On Wednesday 11 December, West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) joined a group of students in delivering an urgent message to Minister Emma Hardy, Under-Secretary for the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, addressing the critical issue of sewage pollution in England’s rivers. 


The event, organised by Evenlode Catchment Partnership (ECP), took place in London and saw the local students from Rushmore Primary Eco School, Lower Clapton, present hundreds of postcards from themselves and communities across the Cotswolds. The messages on the cards and those placed in symbolic bottles – traditionally used by those stranded, unable to save themselves, to seek help – served as a powerful call for the government to take immediate action and respond to growing public pressure for effective solutions to tackle river pollution, restore the health of England’s waterways, and safeguard wildlife. 


Cllr Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, who had the opportunity to speak at the event, said: 

“Securing this meeting with Minister Hardy has been a vital opportunity to bring the urgent issue of sewage pollution to the forefront of government action. In the last year alone, Thames Water discharged raw sewage into West Oxfordshire’s rivers for more than 22,000 hours, that is on average about 1,300 hours from each of the Sewage Treatment Works. To put it into perspective 1,300 hours is equivalent to about two months. 
“Thames Water has permits to discharge sewage from their storm overflow tanks only under exceptional circumstances. Sewage discharges are having a devastating effect on our rivers and wildlife. Once vibrant, life-filled rivers are now murky and lifeless, and families can no longer safely enjoy them. 
“The Council is aware that much of West Oxfordshire's sewerage infrastructure is in a perilous state, with up to 40% of the flow in the sewer network coming from infiltration into the leaky, unmaintained sewer pipes. Many of the district's sewage treatment works (STW) are operating with insufficient capacity, leaving our rivers vulnerable to frequent pollution events. 
“As a Council, we’ve worked hard to hold Thames Water to account and whilst some progress has been made, we need more decisive government action to address the infrastructure gaps and prevent further harm to our rivers. 
“Together with the Evenlode Catchment Partnership, we are dedicated to working alongside our partners to push for sustainable solutions to restore the health of our rivers, protect wildlife, and ensure that the necessary improvements are made without delay.” 

The ECP is a collaboration of over 30 organizations dedicated to restoring the River Evenlode’s ecological health. Hosted by Wild Oxfordshire, the partnership works across four key areas: Water Quality and Advocacy; Biodiversity, Habitat and Landscape; Natural Flood Management; and Education and Community Outreach. 



Jennifer Lanham from Evenlode Catchment Partnership (ECP) said: 


“Wednesday’s event highlighted the urgent need for action to protect our rivers, with children from Rushmore Primary Eco School delivering a powerful message to Minister Hardy. The postcards in the bottle, representing the distress of local communities, reflect the escalating crisis of river pollution. Records show that sewage discharges have tripled in our region since 2022, causing lasting damage to our waterways. 
“The children’s message, ‘You have the power and the responsibility,’ is a reminder that protecting our rivers is not just an environmental issue, but a moral one. We hope the Minister will take decisive action to restore and protect our rivers for future generations.” 

Through collaboration with local communities and partners, the ECP is leading efforts to secure cleaner rivers. The Council has been also met regularly with Thames Water to push for action on sewage pollution and as a result was able to secure the use of Grampian planning condition in applications for new housing developments in areas with insufficient infrastructure. This condition ensures that no new homes will be occupied until the necessary sewage treatment capacity is in place. Events such as Waterways Day and other outreach efforts continue to raise awareness of these critical issues and highlight our ongoing commitment to protecting our rivers and natural environment. 


Contact Information

West Oxfordshire District Council Communications Team

communications@westoxon.gov.uk


More Articles

September 23, 2025
From 22 September until the end of November, there will be some adjustments to the current traffic management arrangements on the B4022.
September 19, 2025
Local leaders in West Oxfordshire are encouraging residents to take part in a major public consultation on the future of rail in Oxfordshire.
September 15, 2025
With autumn and winter approaching, now is the perfect time to make sure you’re ready for the colder nights ahead.
September 15, 2025
Families, older residents and local communities are seeing the benefits of more than half a million pounds of funding from West Oxfordshire District Council.
September 15, 2025
Dear Customer, We're writing on behalf of Thames Water, your water wholesaler, to remind you that the hosepipe ban introduced on Tuesday 22 July is still in effect in your area. Thanks to your efforts, businesses and households across the region have already helped save millions of litres of water each day. However, despite recent rainfall, reservoir and groundwater levels remain well below average. While rainfall has allowed Thames Water to start replenishing reservoirs, it will take months of steady rain for rivers, groundwater and reservoirs to fully recover. That's why the temporary use ban remains essential, and why it's important that we continue the water saving efforts as we move into autumn. FIND OUT MORE HERE Please continue to be water efficient this autumn Your business is covered by the hosepipe ban, and even though the impact is limited, your continued support helps protect the water supply for everyone in your community and reduces the risk of further disruption.  Reduce water use where possible - for example, scheduling vehicle washing outside peak periods (early morning/late evening) Checking for leaks on-site - even a small constant dribble can waste around 400 litres per day Stopping urinals flushing overnight - turning off the flow can save thousands of litres Raise awareness of employees - small steps by everyone can add up to greater savings For more information or to report urgent issues, please call Thames Water's 24-hour helpline on 0800 316 9800. Thanks for your continued cooperation. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here to help. Best regards, Ray Porter Director of Wholesale and Markets Castle Water
September 15, 2025
Autumn newsletter for West Oxfordshire residents.
September 15, 2025
West Oxfordshire District Council will be considering proposals to speak with local town and parish councils on how to best manage public toilets.
September 15, 2025
West Oxfordshire District Council is launching a new ‘Business Boost’ Grant to help businesses grow, adapt and plan for the future.
September 15, 2025
Are you worried about rising energy bills or finding it difficult to keep your home warm? Help is available.
September 15, 2025
Oxfordshire residents without off-street parking can now apply for an EV cable channel, making home charging easier and safer.
Show More