Labour is leading the clean up of our coast

Our beaches and the wildlife that depend on them are suffering from a modern pollutant that most people barely think about – plastic wet wipes.

The Labour Government’s is banning the sale of them – a major step forward in cleaning up our waterways and our coastline, protecting wildlife and restoring pride in our natural environment.

The impact of this single pollutant is staggering. Across the UK 11 billion wipes are used every single year and more than a third of these contain plastic. When flushed they clog pipes, cause fatbergs and break down into harmful microplastics that end up in our rivers, seas, and food chain.

UK Water research found that wet wipes are responsible for 94% of sewer blockages, costing water companies and households around £200 million each year. The impact on our coastline is clear – a recent national survey found an average of 20 wet wipes littering every 100 metres of beach across the UK.

This ban builds on years of campaigning and the efforts of Labour MP Fleur Anderson whose Private Member’s Bill in 2021 helped bring this issue to national attention.

Legislation is only part of the solution and we all have a role to play and even wipes labelled flushable should go in the bin, not the toilet. This small change in habit will make a big difference to our sewer systems, our environment and our coastline.

Blackpool deserves a cleaner, greener future and that includes beaches we can be proud of. This ban is a practical, long-overdue step toward achieving that. As your MP, I’ll continue fighting for policies that protect our coast, restore our natural environment and ensure that future generations can enjoy the Blackpool we all love.