Yesterday, Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, challenged the Deputy First Minister, and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, on the measuring of plastic pollution in Welsh waters, and poor state of water infrastructure in Wales.
Following this, Janet commented:
“I was shocked to learn last year that there are no official measurements being taken of plastic pollution in our Welsh waters. With plastic making up 80% of litter on our beaches, plastics being found in animals in our rivers, and seagulls found to have ingested glitter, this is deeply concerning.
“Along with the fact that there are 100 times more microplastics on our UK coastline than there were a decade ago, this is cause for real concern. These plastics are entering our food supply, our environment, and our natural habitats. For this reason, I called on the Deputy First Minister to work with Natural Resources Wales to measure, record, and report levels of plastic found in our waters.
“Recently, in Aberconwy and across North Wales, we have seen a series of burst water mains that have left residents without water, particularly drinkable water, for hours, and in some cases days. This is unacceptable and highlights that our existing water infrastructure is not fit for purpose and must be addressed. With water bills set to rise to £683 in 2026–27, I have called for this additional money to be used to improve our vital water infrastructure.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
