- www.theguardian.com Ruling paves way for businesses and public to sue water firms over sewage
Decision by supreme court means water companies could be sued for damage caused by dumping of human waste
> Water companies could face a spate of legal challenges by people and businesses affected by sewage pollution after a ruling that United Utilities could be sued by a private company for damage caused by the dumping of human waste. > >Lawyers said it was a “watershed moment” as the courts had previously ruled that penalties for water companies were a matter for the regulator, and companies could not sue firms for damage caused to their property by sewage pollution. > > The Manchester Ship Canal Company, which has been trying since 2010 to bring a claim against United Utilities, has alleged that discharges from 121 sewage outfalls within its networks constituted a trespass. > >In February 2012, the high court ruled in favour of United Utilities, but this was later overturned by the court of appeal, and then restored by the supreme court in 2014. Then, in March 2021, the high court ruled it was the role of regulators and not the courts to address problems caused by sewage dumping. > >The Environmental Law Foundation, supported by the Good Law Project, challenged this decision, arguing that there should be legal options for people directly affected by sewage pollution. But the court of appeal found against them and said the only option for recourse in issues caused by pollution was through the regulator, and that the law did not allow people or companies directly affected to bring private claims against the water companies. > >The case then went to the supreme court, which overturned the previous rulings and found that United Utilities can be held to account for damage caused by discharges. > >The court said the 1991 Water Industry Act does not prevent the company from bringing a claim for nuisance or trespass when a canal is polluted by sewage discharges from United Utilities’ sewers, even if there has been no deliberate misconduct or negligence.
- www.theguardian.com Thames Water board approved £150m payout hours before funding U-turn
Exclusive: Ofwat to investigate circumstances around payment of dividend to intermediate parent company
- www.bbc.co.uk BT scraps digital landline switch deadline
BT has ditched its timetable to move landline customers from copper wire to digital.
- www.ispreview.co.uk Openreach Update as Analogue UK Phone Switch Off Delayed to 2027
In case anybody missed it after being buried in yesterday's BT results (here). The plan to withdraw BT and Openreach's old copper-based analogue line services
- www.bbc.co.uk Huge underground reservoir near Huntingdon emptied for deep clean
Once repairs have been carried out the underground reservoir will be refilled and tested.
- www.bbc.co.uk National Grid: More large electricity cables planned for Lincolnshire
Two cables would travel on the sea floor from Scotland to England, coming ashore in Lincolnshire.
-
The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway [Crossrail] [YouTube]
An oldie, but some intersting insights into the building of crossrail.
-
The skuttled ships that protected the port of Dover
doverhistorian.com BlockshipsAt the outbreak of World War I (1914-1918) on 4 August 1914, Dover’s harbour was taken over by the Admiralty and one of the main considerations was to prevent enemy submarines entering. It was deci…
- www.theregister.com Millions of UK smart meters facing obsolescence
UK reckoning with prospect of millions of homes with obsolete hardware
- www.bbc.co.uk National Grid fined £43,000 for Shropshire road safety offences
The electricity distributor pleaded guilty to 11 offences in a prosecution brought by the council.
-
Secrets Of The Motorways
An 80 part youtube playlist on hidden details of UK motorways.
-
The TV Aerials In This Town Face The Wrong Way - The Reason Is Genius!
YouTube Video
Click to view this content.