Martin Abrams demands Lambeth action over Thames Water’s ‘never-ending litany of failures’ as residents mount petition

The borough’s record of burst mains, supply cut-offs and sewage dumping has been thrown into sharp national focus by Channel 4’s Dirty Business, as Lambeth residents mount a formal petition …

Feb 25, 2026 - 07:02

Martin Abrams demands Lambeth action over Thames Water’s ‘never-ending litany of failures’ as residents mount petition

The borough’s record of burst mains, supply cut-offs and sewage dumping has been thrown into sharp national focus by Channel 4’s Dirty Business, as Lambeth residents mount a formal petition to the council demanding action over Thames Water’s failures.

Local anger is mounting at Streatham MP Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, who has waved through massive bill increases, with households virtually squeezed dry by the cost of living, to prop up a company that has paid out billions in shareholder dividends while leaving Lambeth residents facing burst mains, cut-off supplies and closed schools.

*[Zack Polanski joins Lambeth Greens to welcome Martin Abrams to the party, Sept 2025]*

With the Green Party increasingly seen nationally as the sharpest political thorn in the side of corporate interests and wealth inequality, Streatham Councillor Martin Abrams gave his full backing to the petition:

“For decades now Thames Water has been betraying Lambeth residents by failing to invest in our water infrastructure and instead paying out billions in shareholder dividends and executive bonuses, which has now resulted in a never-ending litany of local failures with burst mains, disruptive roadworks and water supplies being cut off completely, leading to the closure of local schools and nurseries.

Despite this, the Labour Government and our local MP Steve Reed have waived through massive increases to Thames Water bills to effectively bail out this failed company and preserve the disgraceful privatised water system.” – Martin Abrams, Streatham

Household anger at the frothy mix of greed and failure from Thames Water has been close to palpable in Lambeth for some time. Crystallised in the petition, and with national public opinion galvanised by Channel 4’s Dirty Business, campaigners at Boycott Thames Water believe the tide may finally be turning, but only if people get behind it and make their voices heard.

Separately, 24 MPs have signed and open letter to Ofwat and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, demanding that the water company be placed under special administration.