'Andy Burnham needs to bring Yorkshire Water under public control' says Sheffield councillor
“Yorkshire Water is emblematic of the failure that is privatised water”
A councillor is calling on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to bring Yorkshire Water under public control “as a priority” as the utilities firm is set to to be downgraded to the lowest possible level.
The Yorkshire Post reported last week that the region’s water provider is set to be downgraded by the Environment Agency in their upcoming October review over pollution incidents.
Last year, the company was rated as two stars following 151 pollution incidents in 2024, however is now set to be rated one-star - the lowest rating available.
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The news has spurred a Sheffield councillor to call for the firm to be brought under public control.
Councillor Minesh Parekh, who represents Sheffield's Crookes and Crosspool ward for the Labour and Co-operative parties, said: "Yorkshire Water is emblematic of the failure that is privatised water. A company that imposes hosepipe bans while losing billions of litres of water to leaks.
"One that pays its CEO million pound 'well done' bonus after dumping raw sewage into our waterways on thousands of occasions."
Despite ongoing problems, Yorkshire Water have recently raised their bills claiming it will “fund our biggest-ever programme of investment.”
Meanwhile chief executive Nicola Shaw base salary and pension contribution increase raising her Yorkshire Water remuneration by £43,000 from £689,000 to £732,000.
She has also gone on to claim another £660,000 payment from the firm’s parent company Kelda Holdings, despite controversies about her receiving a £1.3 million bonus from the offshore company in 2024.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Ms Shaw said she was focused on improving services, adding: “I said last year we wanted to improve. Therefore it is really disappointing to see the reduction this year.
"There are three reasons for it. The first two relate to serious and total numbers of pollutants. Since the beginning of last year, I’ve been saying this is a challenge for us.
"It is partly our asset base that needs lots of work and that’s why the investment programme we have is so important.
“The last one relates to a construction project that went wrong back in 2021 and we won’t be able to solve that one until 2028.
"Because of the few projects we have delivered relatively, it makes a big impact this year. Hopefully it won’t in the future. I look forward to us improving. That’s what we need to do for the people of Yorkshire.”
Makerfield MP Andy Burnham, who is set to become Prime Minister in a week’s time, has claimed he wants "greater public control" of water and electric companies, and specifically called on bringing Thames Water under full public ownership.
“He's spoken of a long-term plan to bring water back into public hands,” coun Parekh added.
“He needs to recognise that Yorkshire Water is one of the worst offenders and needs to be up there on his list as a priority to come back in house.
"Last year the government legislated specifically to prevent Yorkshire Water from paying its CEO a bonus. What did they do? Pay a £1.3m bonus through an offshore company.
"This is not a company interested in providing our water; it's a company that's invested in wringing out as much money as possible for its shareholders. Its corporate negligence should make it one of Burnham's first targets for change."
Earlier this year, coun Parekh also spoke at the first of a series of public meetings organised by Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake, on the future of Britain's water, during which he says the audience in Crosspool overwhelmingly backed solutions that would bring Yorkshire Water into public hands.
Local MPs have also raised concerns about the change in rating, with Abtisam Mohammed saying Yorkshire Water have a “monopoly” over the region.
The Sheffield Central MP added: “I’ve already written to the Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, requesting a meeting about Yorkshire Water’s shocking performance.
“Now they’ve been downgraded to a one-star rating, which is the worst they can receive.
“Yorkshire Water has a complete monopoly over its customers, who are forced to pay the price for the company’s failures, while the bosses running it into the ground continue to pocket bonus after bonus.
“I will continue to press for action.”