Thames Water fined £125,000 for Wandle spillage

As I reported late last year, Magistrates referred Thames Water up to Croydon Crown Court for sentencing over the terrible spillage of bleach into the River Wandle that killed tonnes of fish and did severe damage to the river.

The Magistrates passed the case on because they were limited in the amount of fines they could impose on Thames Water but felt the mistake had been so catastrophic that a bigger punishment needed to be imposed. And so it was: Croydon Court judges are making Thames Water pay £125,000 for the damage they did.

I think this fine is proportionate and sends a clear message that London's tributary rivers are as important as the Thames to our capital.