This morning I walked some of the tributary of the River Wriggle at Leigh, including Stakeford Cross and Leigh Bridge.
What I saw should concern every single one of us.
The water remains heavily discoloured.
Dirty brown foam is collecting along the banks and in slower-moving sections.
There is little visible wildlife activity.This is only a few miles from the river’s source.
If a river is showing signs of ecological stress at the very start of its journey, what chance does it have downstream?The River Wriggle flows into the River Parrett, which then runs into Bridgwater Bay and onward to the River Severn.
This is not just a “local issue.” Pollution here travels. It spreads. It affects communities, wildlife and coastal waters far beyond Yetminster and Leigh.

Even more concerning — during bright, dry weather — untreated sewage is reportedly being discharged into the River Yeo, flowing through Bradford Abbas.
Let that sink in.
Sewage discharges are supposed to be emergency overflow events during exceptional rainfall. They should not be happening in sunshine.
We are being asked to pay higher water bills while our rivers show visible signs of distress.

This cannot continue.
We need:
Full transparency on discharge events
Independent ecological testing upstream and downstream
A clear timetable for infrastructure upgrades
Accountability for repeated pollution
Our rivers are not waste channels.
They are living ecosystems.
They belong to the community — not to be used as overflow pipes.
If we stay silent, nothing changes.
If we push together, we can demand better.