Environment Agency told to probe pollution in River Wharfe and Aire

Anna Dixon, the Shipley MP, wrote to chief executive Philip Duffy after Yorkshire Water admitted that it was responsible for 260 pollution incidents across the region in the last financial year - a 72 per cent increase.

A Labour MP has urged the Environment Agency to conduct a full assessment of pollution incidents affecting the Aire and the Wharfe.

Anna Dixon, the Shipley MP, wrote to chief executive Philip Duffy after Yorkshire Water admitted that it was responsible for 260 pollution incidents across the region in the last financial year - a 72 per cent increase.

The Yorkshire Post also revealed that the EA’s environmental performance assessment for the firm is set to be downgraded to one-star, with chief executive Nicola Shaw described as “really disappointing”.

Ms Dixon has already written to Ms Shaw, expressing her anger at the company’s performance.

In her letter to the EA, she said: “As the Member of Parliament for the Shipley constituency, I represent communities in Saltaire, Baildon and Bingley, through which the River Aire flows, and Burley-in-Wharfedale, through which the River Wharfe flows.

I am deeply concerned about the state of both rivers and would like to seek the Environment Agency's assessment of this situation and to request action.

“I am angered by Yorkshire Water’s continued deteriorating performance, and I understand that their environmental performance assessment is set to be downgraded to one-star.”

She urged the EA to conduct its own assessment and questioned whether it carries out real-time monitoring of pollution incidents in the rivers.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: “Improvement on pollution will take time given the scale of new infrastructure that is needed, but we have the right plan in place and by 2030, we will have reduced pollution incidents and delivered significant improvements to river health.”