Water companies are set to avoid ‘disproportionate’ £250m fines for sewage spills

Water companies are set to avoid fines of up to £250million for spilling sewage into rivers and seas.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is understood to believe the penalties are ‘disproportionate’.

Ministers last year promised a rise in the maximum fines from £250,000 following persistent spills. 

But Ms Coffey is said to have refused to commit to higher fines and allies say she wants to ‘look at the evidence with a fresh pair of eyes and do what is most effective’.

Water companies are set to avoid fines of up to £250million for spilling sewage into rivers and seas. but Therese Coffey believes the penalties are ‘disproportionate’

There are also concerns that threatening companies with vast fines could scare off investors needed to fund £56billion in waterway infrastructure upgrades. 

However, Defra insists the biggest penalties are ‘still on the table’. 

Sources close to Ms Coffey insist that she believes her priority is an effective deterrent rather than high fines.