ANDOVER'S MP has responded to criticism from the public after he voted against an amendment that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to dump raw sewage into rivers and the sea.

Kit Malthouse was one of 265 Conservative MPs, which included Devizes MP Danny Kruger, that voted against the amendment last week.

The backlash from the public has forced many Conservative MPs, including Winchester's Steve Brine, to post almost identical statements defending their position.

Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales “to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage".

It was proposed in the House of Lords by the Duke of Wellington, Charles Wellesley.

Since the vote last week, constituents in North West Hampshire have been critical of the MP's decision, with many Advertiser readers commenting to express their opposition to his vote.

Responding, Mr Malthouse, crime and policing minister, said that the government is already working with water companies to "drastically reduce" the amount of waste pumped into rivers.

He said: "The waste pumped by water companies into our rivers must be dealt with, and we are already working with them to drastically reduce it.

"All discharges by a water company require a permit issued by the Environment Agency, and these permits have strict conditions attached to them.

"If they are not met, the Agency has powers to investigate and take enforcement action. In the last five years alone, there have been 47 prosecutions and fines of over £132 million."

The North West Hampshire constituency contains large swathes of the Test Valley and many chalk streams. The WWF say that there are about 200 chalk streams in the world, most of which are found in southern England.

And one of the region's MPs, Caroline Nokes, voted against her party and in favour of the amendment.

The Romsey and Southampton North MP, who covers villages including Barton Stacey and Longparish, previously supported a campaign from Surfers Against Sewage to stop sewage pollution.

Mr Malthouse continued: "Our Environment Bill will impose stringent new requirements on the water companies with regard to river water quality and let’s not forget, between now and 2025, those companies are investing some £3.1 billion in storm overflow improvements throughout England.

"We will always strive to work with industry and consumers to make our environment as pristine as we can.”