South Shropshire MP, Philip Dunne, has welcomed plans to reinvest water company fines directly into water restoration. 

Up to £11 million in water company fines and penalties will be reinvested back into a new Water Restoration Fund (WRF). Mr Dunne had spoken in Parliament about the need for a specific ringfenced fund to be created, joining calls from the River Trust. 

The Water Restoration Fund will offer grant funding on a competitive basis to support local groups, farmers and landowners and community-led schemes, bolstering their capacity and capabilities for on-the-ground projects to improve the water environment. This could include activities that improve biodiversity and community access to blue and green spaces in areas where water companies have been issued with fines or penalties.

Applicants will have until 11.59pm on Friday 7th June 2024 to apply, with grant awards expected to be issued from late July. Applications can be made online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-restoration-fund-guidance-for-applicants

Mr Dunne said: 

“Last year, I was encouraged by the Government’s intention to establish a Water Restoration Fund. I am pleased to see that this has now been launched. Funnelling penalties levied on water companies directly back into environmental protection will ensure that communities affected by breaches of environmental law will be able to access funding for restoration projects.

“Restoring the health of England’s rivers will be no easy task nor quick fix, but this announcement indicates the Government recognises fines on water polluters ought to be committed directly to cleaning up waterways.

“I am particularly pleased the funding will be available to catchment partnerships. These groups, empowering organisations in a particular area to collaborate on improving waterways, are very well placed to propose and deliver practical solutions.

“Applicants have an eight-week window to apply for grants from the fund. So I encourage any groups concerned about water quality to make the most of this helpful scheme by applying for funding as a priority.”