Eric Ollerenshaw, Fleetwood’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, writes to the Gazette following the news that United Utilities made a pre-tax profit of £475.6 million.

Sir,

Interesting reading today that United Utilities has announced an underlying profit before tax of £475.6 million, 17% up on last year!

The Chief Executive claims in his statement today that “continued investment in our assets will help raise environmental standards further and the offer to our customers” – but no mention of the impact on Fleetwood over the past years of the failure of environmental standards.

Perhaps with these profits we have a right to expect the cash to finally deal with the “smell”.

Perhaps with these profits we have a right to expect the cash to finally deal with the “smell”.

Eric Ollerenshaw

Wishful thinking perhaps, as so much now depends on the Government’s Environment Agency getting its act into gear.

At the very least, can’t we expect United Utilities to provide the facilities for people closest to the plant to put in their complaints when the “smell” happens?

This won’t solve this problem overnight and certainly knocking on doors I know how disgusted everybody is with this issue, but until some kind of measured and recorded assessment can be made from the people most affected, then it becomes too easy for the company to carry on in denial,

Yours,

Eric Ollerenshaw
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Lancaster and Fleetwood