Office for Environmental Protection report confirms Environment Agency is not sufficiently funded

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report looking at the UK’s water quality and goals for water pollution.

Water flowing from drain into river

One of the report’s findings was that the Environment Agency does not have enough funding to enforce the standards we need to meet targets for water quality.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“Today’s OEP report confirms what Prospect has been saying for some time, that the Environment Agency is simply not sufficiently well-funded to adequately fulfil its regulatory obligations.

“Years of insufficient funding and pay restraint have seen a disastrous loss of experience and skills piling pressure and workload on those remaining and leading to a recruitment and retention crisis.

“Our regulators are vital if we are to protect our natural environment. You simply can’t get the results you need when you do things on the cheap.”