A Salisbury MP is among the politicians receiving backlash after voting against a measure that aimed to help prevent untreated sewage overflows into the sea and rivers last week.

Conservative MP John Glen voted against an amendment to the Environment Bill, on October 20, which sought to place a legal duty on water companies to “take all reasonable steps” not to pump untreated sewage into rivers. 

Many took to Twitter to publicly shame their MPs for voting not to implement this amendment.

A tweet from concerned resident, David Savile, posted on Saturday October 23, got a huge reaction from locals.

It said: “My MP is John Glen of Salisbury. Another one to vote to discharge raw sewage into Britain's waterways. 

“He sits right by the River Avon and River Nadder. Hope he can't smell anything. Awaiting his explanation.”

Mr Savile later told the Journal: "I’m 3 miles away from the Avon but who would not want to ensure that the privatised water companies (that make huge profits for their shareholders) don’t discharge raw sewage into it???"

His tweet attracted nearly 800 retweets and more than 900 likes, with many replying to express their dismay.

One Twitter user commented: “Imagine the Elizabeth Gardens full of raw sewage later this winter...”

Another, Kim, highlighted what she saw as a difference between the MP's words and his actions. 

She shared a quote from Mr Glen's website in which he said: "We can, and I believe we will, be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it."

To this, she added: "Now voting against a Bill to protect our waterways from raw sewage."

Another tweet from Susy Starfield calls John Glen's decision a "disgrace".

The Lords Amendment 45 to the Environmental Bill concerns sewerage services in “storm overflows”, and a new clause (141A) would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales to improve their sewerage systems. 

This part of the amendment was not accepted, which in full stated: “A sewerage undertaker must demonstrate improvements in the sewerage systems and progressive reductions in the harm caused by untreated sewage discharges.”

“The Secretary of State, the Director and the Environment Agency must exercise their respective functions under this and any other Act to secure compliance with this duty."

The MPs voted 268 to 204, majority 64, at the House of Commons on October 20 to disagree with proposals tabled by Crossbench peer the Duke of Wellington.

Other amendments in this same section were accepted, outlining the role of the secretary of state in creating a plan to reducing storm overflow discharge to be published before September 2022.

Mr Glen has now defended his decision to vote against the proposed amendment, saying he is "happy to address the misconceptions" surrounding the vote.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.