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River Thames Art Protest Demands Stronger Clean Water Bill
24 Oct
Summary
- An artist is exhibiting steel sculptures to advocate for a stronger Clean Water Bill.
- The exhibition highlights the ongoing sewage crisis affecting the River Thames.
- The protest aims to bridge the gap between legislation and the river's physical state.
An artist is using an exhibition near Elmbridge Canoe Club to advocate for a stronger Clean Water Bill to improve the River Thames' condition. Rory Maguire's display features a metre-long steel salmon carcass and a steel butterfly sculpture on the towpath, aiming to highlight the prevalent sewage crisis.
Maguire stated that art possesses a unique capacity to evoke emotion and prompt reflection on environmental issues. By placing these sculptures directly along the Thames, he seeks to connect heavy political processes with the tangible reality of the river's pollution.
The exhibition is part of a national campaign by Surfers Against Sewage. The government, through the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, has indicated its Water Bill will enhance accountability for water companies and introduce a new regulator to improve water quality.
Thames Water has responded by stating its storm overflows operate within permitted limits and are part of the wastewater system. The company is undertaking a significant upgrade to its network, which it claims is the largest in 150 years, to increase treatment capacity and reduce discharges.
