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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Macquarie have had to put another £655m into the company with a further £550m promised but only if they win their appeal to be allowed to increase prices by 53%. There are at least 4 other WCs I can think of following close behind.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

@SouthernWater joins @thameswater tittering on the brink of collapse. Ares Management and Westbourne Capital have agreed to write off £370m in debt,

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Holy sh*t…. 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

So exactly 16 days after govt introduced bans on 6 water companies paying bonuses, including @SouthWestWater fat cat CEO Susan Davy of South West Water fame gets paid nearly £200,000 in shares bonuses. That didn't take long then. As I said at the time, nothing but performative politics.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Would that be the same @SouthWestWater fat cat boss who was just given £237,000 in shares as a 'long-term' bonus bringing her total annual salary up to £860,000? Of course it would. Oh, and whatever did happen that ban on bonuses?

itv.com

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

"SNP in humiliating u-turn over sewage spills after rivers and beaches marred by waste The Scottish Government was warned by its own environmental watchdog that it was breaking the law by not setting out when sewage could be spilled into rivers and beaches." Meanwhile north of the border. 🤔

scottishdailyexpress.co.uk

SNP in humiliating u-turn over sewage spills after beaches marred by waste

Exclusive: The Scottish Government was warned by its own environmental watchdog that it was breaking the law by not setting out when sewage could be spilled into rivers and beaches.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Beginning to suspect if I play this anymore this morning the family are going to come and lock me in the shed. Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat #getdown_services

youtube.com

Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat

YouTube video by Getdown Services - Topic

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... water company has confirmed one of its treatment works was the source of pollution that killed thousands of fish in a Cornish river." I see @SouthWestWater are up to their old tricks again.

bbc.co.uk

Pollution from treatment works killed fish in Cornish river

South West Water says pollution in a Cornish river happened after a delivery to the plant.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

That said the answer to why govt is refusing to put TW into special administration is buried right in the middle of the article. "Government borrowing in May reached an eye-watering £20.2 billion, exceeding forecasts." Now talk to me about the £19bn worth of debt TW is carrying.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

For most of the public that dream has already gone, burned at the feet of venture capitalism, corporate greed and regulatory incompetence.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

"Thames Water risks sinking free market dream. Until those of us who still believe in a streamlined state can say how to fix the utility’s failings, the case for privatisation rings hollow."

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

So all that guff about the water industry 'investing' £104bn, which is actually your money not theirs, well turns out the whole thing is just another load of hopeless old nonsense. Transpires they don't have enough engineers or skilled staff to build much of anything. Who knew. 🤔

water.org.uk

£104bn investment plan | Water UK

Ofwat approved £104bn investment into water and sewage infrastructure between 2025 and 2030 and this represents a near doubling of expenditure compared to the…

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

I have to say it's an astonishing good listen. 😀

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Mentioning United Utilities can anyone explain how a company can double its profits in just one year, from £170m to £355m, and yet is still be allowed to increase prices by a whopping 32%? Yet again it's the customers who get played and the regulator @Ofwat sits back and allows it to happen.

bbc.co.uk

United Utilities profits double as it hikes customer bills

United Utilities pre-tax profits more than doubled to £355m for the year ending 31 March.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

"Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water fined £250,000 for sewage pollution." That of course would be the same Welsh Water who have already been found guilty of 234 environment offences in the last 10 years alone and paid £628,298 in fines. Really, what is the point? www.itv.com/news/wales/2...

itv.com

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

“Thames Water renationalisation plans being stepped up”. Tick tock, tick tock….. All totally predictable, all should have been dealt with a year ago. Meanwhile prolonged dithering has cost bill payers how much?

theguardian.com

Thames Water renationalisation plans being stepped up, says minister

Environment secretary indicates that calls from creditors for leniency from fines and penalties will be rejected

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

“Privatised water never worked. Now it might be over.” Anyone that disagrees feel free to raise your hand. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

newstatesman.com

Privatised water never worked. Now it might be over.

MPs are now calling for a different model of ownership.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Yep, you read that right. Seriously what is this all about at this point, what in God’s name is govt waiting for? Who’s running this show, TW or the government?

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

So apart from wanting to be exempt from environmental laws and to have any current or future fines wavered @thameswater now also want the right “to raise prices at any time before 2030”.

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Reposted by Feargal Sharkey - fan

East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 16/06/2025

"This cannot continue indefinitely." Residents demand answers from @anglianwater.bsky.social as roads close due to leaks and sinkholes – and thousands more homes are planned. Report by Owen Sennitt, Local Democracy Reporting Service #WaterWoes

eastangliabylines.co.uk

Town at breaking point: water leaks, sinkholes and soaring growth

Norfolk town faces growing water woes as leaks and sinkholes raising concerns over infrastructure amid rapid expansion

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

nowhere more obvious than the allowing of the great exercise in financial engineering. And then there are the farmers, who want to be paid not to pollute." The whole diabolical situation summarised in a single paragraph. @Dieter_Helm on blistering form this morning.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Huge round go applause to @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and all on the committee. BRAVO, BRAVO! 👏👏👏

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

The report also urges Sir Jon Cuncliffe to do more about ownership. "We are more sceptical about the value that is being brought by the present system of ownership and the reliance on debt and equity investment and urge the Commission to be bold in this respect."

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

"The water sector is failing." "Root and branch reform of the water sector is now needed". "The sector has completely lost sight of its purpose". "Senior leadership in the water sector and the regulatory system have failed."

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

After months of evidence gathering and countless hearings the House of Commons @CommonsEFRA select committee pulls no punches and gives the water industry and regulators both barrels. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

committees.parliament.uk

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

If there is such as honour the boards of both organisations should resign, en masse, today.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

The CommonsEFRA are particularly scathing of Ofwat's and EnvAgency's performance. "Not only has the regulatory system failed to protect water resources from such irresponsible leadership, but it also lacks oversight over critical elements of it."

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

UK water industry needs ‘root and branch reform’, MPs say." Pretty comprehensive pasting of the industry and regulators. Once again, bravo to the @CommonsEFRA for getting to the nub of the issue and telling it like it is. Impressive stuff and very welcome. 👏👏👏 www.ft.com/content/2b61...

ft.com

UK water industry needs ‘root and branch reform’, MPs say

Cross-party group calls for ministers to consider bringing Thames Water under temporary state control

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

"Water industry is ‘deaf’ to crisis facing sector, warn MPs." But what will govt's response be I wonder? More of the same fiddling around the edges while desperately trying to ignore the real issues? www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

thetimes.com

Water industry is ‘deaf’ to crisis facing sector, warn MPs

Wide-ranging report calls for government review to recommend root-and-branch reform of the ‘failing’ sector’s culture

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

"Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch’ reform, MPs say." It appears MPs agree. We were promised a root and brach review of the water industry, where is it? As I said last week, we were promised champagne now all we're getting is sour milk. www.cityam.com/water-sector...

cityam.com

Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch’ reform, MPs say

The water sector is in need of “root-and-branch reform”, a committee of MPs has said as it called for more regulation on bonuses.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Ofwat's kitchen sink, the EA's kitchen sink, next door's kitchen sink and just about anything else WCs could securitise against that number and when you're done with that multiply the whole damn thing by inflation for the last 35 years and bingo there it is, £106 billion. Easy.

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Here's how it works. Make up a number for what you think WCs might have been worth in 1990 after privatisation, note the make up the number bit, that's exactly what they did, add interest payments, maintenance costs, costs of fixing the sewage works, leaky pipes,

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

For those that guessed Ratcliffe on Soar, respect, you win. 👏👏👏 I was on my way to Nottingham to speak to the Barbel Society annual conference which was a real treat. And thank’s to everyone at the society for the utterly fabulous Fred Crouch Award. Total surprise and truly, truly honoured. 😎

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Reposted by Feargal Sharkey - fan

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Holding people to ransom. Thames Water bidders demand immunity over environmental crimes. TW has over 187 criminal convictions; allowed to negotiate fines, dump sewage in rivers, hike bills, underinvest. Immunities for TW will be demanded by others. End the circus. Let TW crash. Nationalise.

theguardian.com

Bidders demand Thames Water granted immunity over environmental crimes

Exclusive: ‘Ransom note’ requests would leave Environment Agency unable to prosecute company or management

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Feargal Sharkey - fan @feargalsharkey.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

"Bidders demand Thames Water granted immunity over environmental crimes." So these are the kind of people we are dealing with. If you don't grant us immunity from prosecution we won't buy the company.

theguardian.com

Bidders demand Thames Water granted immunity over environmental crimes

Exclusive: ‘Ransom note’ requests would leave Environment Agency unable to prosecute company or management

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