Rutland residents have been appalled to learn that sewage has been discharged near Rutland Water and Uppingham Brook for a combined total of over 1000 hours in the last year.

According the The Rivers Trust, sewage was discharged in the local area for approximately 1100 hours in the space of 1 year.

The group have also revealed that, in 2021, a sewer storm at Rutland Nature Reserve overflowed 54 times for a total of 385 hours, discharging into the Rutland Water and Barleythorpe Brook.

In 2021, the Langham sewer storm overflow spilled 29 times for a total of 320 hours, discharging into the Langham Brook.

This are not isolated incidents, with a sewer storm overflow in Stamford spilling 46 times for a total of 597 hours, discharging into the River Welland.

View The Rivers Trust Sewage Map to find out more about the local spots where sewage has been spilled or dumped.

This issue is brought up once again as the Conservative-led government vote to allow 15 more years of sewage dumping:

Last night, 292 Conservative MPs voted to allow sewage dumping by water companies in our rivers and coasts for at least 15 more years.Can you spot your MP on the list? pic.twitter.com/VXXafEGXjZ

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) January 26, 2023

On 25 January, both the Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, and the Stamford and Grantham MP, Gareth Davies, voted in favour of this.

Stephen Lambert, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Uppingham, said: "These figures are absolutely shocking. The longer this goes on, the more damage will be done to our wildlife and our environment. It's disappointing that measures that could have put a stop to this damage were repeatably voted down by the government. Locally, the council should be demanding answers from irresponsible water companies. Our County really does deserve better than this."

River Welland, Stamford: Image credit: Nub News.