Protecting and Preserving our Environment for Generations to Come

Robert Courts group photo

As a keen conservationist, environmental issues are a priority of mine in Parliament and in West Oxfordshire.  One of the reasons West Oxfordshire is so special is the beautiful countryside which surrounds us and the diverse wildlife that inhabits it.

I am delighted that many of the issues I have campaigned on since entering Parliament are now being addressed by the Government.  These include action on plastics in our oceans, the introduction of CCTV in all slaughterhouses, and tougher punishment for those who commit acts of animal cruelty.  I will continue to work with local environmental groups and the Government to build on this progress.  Keep up to date with my latest work on this issue below.

News

Flood in Clanfield

Today, I was out with Cllr Ted Fenton in Clanfield, an area which has been hugely impacted by flooding over the past few days. Following my visit, I have now raised my concerns with Thames Water and OCC’s highways team to see what can be done to clear the surface water. I am pleased that since my

Conservative Environment Network

Important visit to No10 to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as part of a delegation of Conservative Environment Network MPs.

Robert Welcomes Plans to Increase Fines for Illegal Sewage Spills by 1,000-Fold

Robert has welcomed plans announced by the new Environment Secretary to raise the civil penalty for water companies who pollute the environment by 1,000-fold - from £250,000 to up to £250 million. The move comes as part of the Government’s ongoing action to push for water companies to invest more i

Robert Welcomes Publication of Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan

Robert has welcomed today's publication of the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which represents the largest infrastructure programme in water company history to tackle sewage pollution. The Plan will revolutionise how water companies tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage, wh

Robert Welcomes Plans to Tackle Storm Overflows & Transform Sewage System

The Government is today launching its consultation on the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which proposes transformational changes to our sewage system, ensuring a significant reduction in the use of storm overflows. Under the plans, water companies will face strict limits on when they can

Robert Welcomes OFWAT Policy Statement Demanding Action on Sewage Pollution

Robert has welcomed Defra's publication of its Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) which sets out the Government’s priorities for Ofwat’s regulation of the water industry in England. The SPS, which has been formally laid to Parliament this week, states that Ofwat must ensure that water companies do mo

Thames Water Responds to Robert's Letter re. Christmas Sewage Spills

Thames Water's CEO, Sarah Bentley, has responded to Robert's recent letter about sewage spills which took place over the Christmas period in Witney. Robert wrote to Sarah Bentley to express concern at reports that Thames Water had been routinely releasing sewage from Witney Sewage Treatment Wo