Jayne Kirkham is to speak to South West Water to discuss the latest threat to the Fal oyster fishing industry, following the shocking news that shellfish sites in the Fal have been forced to close after an outbreak of E coli.

Jayne said: “The future of the shellfish industry hangs in the balance.  It was an afterthought in the Brexit agreements leading to extra red tape and reduced markets. Then neglect of our sewage infrastructure led to hours of untreated sewage pouring into our rivers. The result is this – E Coli and closed sites.

“This is a vital, heritage industry and the appalling truth is that this government has been either too incompetent or too uncaring to do anything to protect it. After 13 years of negligence, we need a Labour government to put this right.

“To stop the spills and protect consumers of our seafood and people who use our beaches, Labour will give the Environment Agency the power and resources to monitor all sewage outlets. We will introduce automatic fines for discharges and a legally binding target to reduce sewage dumping.

“We will ensure that failure to improve is paid from dividends, not customer bills and bosses who routinely and persistently break the rules will face fines.”

Protecting the shellfish industry is an issue that Jayne has taken up over several years as the impact of Brexit and pollution has endangered local fisheries.

Eighteen months ago, Conservative MPs in Cornwall voted against a Labour amendment to the Environment Bill that would have put an end date on water companies spilling sewage into our rivers & seas. Last month the Conservatives blocked a Labour bill that would have led to stricter enforcement on sewage spills and forced the government to publish a strategy for reduction.