Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has explained why he voted to approve a government concession that aims to cut the dumping of raw sewage into waterways.

The government says its proposal will require water companies to make a 'progressive reduction' in dumping raw sewage into waterways.

However, critics of the bill insist it doesn't compel water firms to take action quickly enough, meaning that dumping will continue for many years to come.

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News, Mr Afolami said: "Regrettably, we cannot fix 60 years of under-investment overnight with a blanket ban on sewage discharges - however much we might wish to do so.

"It has been unfortunate that the public debate on this amendment has often tried to paint those who voted against a blanket ban as being in favour of sewage being discharged into our rivers.

"I believe that these new measures will provide protection for our natural environment in a way that is pragmatic and realistic, and does not create the undesirable risk of sewage being discharged into the street instead during extreme rain."

Mr Afolami sided with the Government Amendment in Lieu of the Duke of Wellington's amendment to the Environment Bill on Monday evening which passed with a majority of 120.

The row initially broke in October when MPs voted against a plan from the House of Lords to cut the pollution - which led to a furious response from voters up and down the country, including Hitchin.

Peers forced the issue again, receiving promises from the government, who assured the upper house that that they would introduce stronger measures - meaning that the amendment was passed by MPs on Monday including Hitchin's parliamentarian Mr Afolami - but many still believe the government proposals are not enough.

Mr Afolami added: "Yesterday [Monday] I was proud to vote for the Government Amendment in Lieu of the Duke of Wellington's amendment to the Environment Bill.

"This amendment ensures there is a legal duty on water companies to progressively reduce the adverse impact of sewage discharges on the environment and public health.

"This will work because it dovetails with the existing provisions in the Environment Bill for each water company to produce a statutory Drainage and Sewerage Management Plan every five years, which will set out how such reduction in sewage discharges will be achieved and funded.

"There is also a power of direction for government to direct water companies in relation to actions in those plans if they are not good enough.

"Water companies have an existing Section 94(1)(b) duty to treat sewage "effectually", which has existed since 1991, and the new amendment does not replace nor override this duty."

However, disappointed campaigners for clean water have underlined that they believe the amendment is not as stringent as they would have hoped, insisting the government's compromise is not strong enough - because it did not impose a legal duty on water companies to stop releasing raw sewage into waterways.

The government amendment passed on Monday by 283 votes to 163 votes on Monday states: "A sewerage undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England must secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impact of discharges from the undertaker's storm overflows...reducing adverse impacts on the environment, and reducing adverse impacts on public health."

According to government figures, in 2020, water companies released raw sewage into rivers more than 400,000 times over a total of 3.1m hours.

The release of raw sewage via storm overflows is legal in exceptional circumstances such as heavy rain, but figures show in many cases discharges occur far more regularly.

Hitchin Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Collins told Hitchin Nub News: "[Mr Afolami] is clearly going against the will not only of so many people in our area but against the will of millions of people nationally."

Mr Afolami has already received criticism from Hitchin voters and other political parties for siding with the government during the Owen Paterson sleaze row.

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