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The Story

Thames Water: the business model built on sh*t

The Story

The Times

Daily News Podcast, Exclusive Interviews, Daily News, Current Affairs, Global News, News, Investigative Reporting, Long-form Audio, In-depth Journalism, Audio Storytelling, News Analysis, Politics, Uk News

3.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2024

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The state of our rivers is set to be one of the discussion points of the election and time’s ticking on Thames Water’s request for a 56 per cent increase in customers’ bills. As Ofwat mulls that one, it might ask how a company which leaks raw sewage into our rivers managed to rack up unsustainable levels of debt while also paying out dividends to shareholders. 

Warning: this podcast includes exclusive interviews from those brave enough to take a dip in The Thames.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory

Guest: Dominic O’Connell, business presenter, Times Radio.

Host: Luke Jones.

Clips: 5 News, Sky News.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk 

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Transcript

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0:00.0

BP is working to bring more lower carbon energy to the UK, like developing offshore wind,

0:06.1

and we're keeping oil and gas flowing from the North Sea. It's and not all. That's how BP is backing Britain. Well today we're mostly in oil and gas.

0:16.0

We increased the proportion of our global annual investment that went into our lower carbon and other transition businesses from around 23% in 2023.

0:27.2

BP.com slash and not all.

0:30.7

Rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, extinctions of species, our planet needs protecting.

0:37.0

I'm Adam Vaughan the Environment Editor for The Times and this is Planet Hope from The Times, in partnership with Rolex and its perpetual planet initiative.

0:44.9

In this podcast we hear from leading experts from around the world who are committed to

0:49.4

finding solutions. These explorers, scientists, entrepreneurs and citizens are committed to a common goal to protect our home, Earth.

0:58.0

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. And the Times, this is the story.

1:13.4

I'm Luke Jones and this is the Thames.

1:17.6

We are at Teddington Lock.

1:20.3

I can see rowing boats, geese, trees full of sunshine and a big brown river.

1:29.0

I'm with a group of people about to go for a dip.

1:32.0

Nice and more.

1:34.0

It's a nice temperature, isn't it?

1:36.0

Really good temperature.

1:38.0

Lovely.

1:40.0

Perfect temperature. Great. Because would you believe this is shaping into a big election issue, our dirty sewage-filled

1:49.0

rivers and what to do about them. Tonight the Prime Minister has finally announced the next general election.

2:00.0

It was top of Kastarma's list. We will stop the chaos. Look around our country,

2:06.9

for sewage in our rivers, people waiting on trolleys in A&E. Crime virtually unpunished. And the Chancellor isn't happy either.

2:17.0

You know, I represent constituents who have been very badly served by Thames Water and I'm very cross at them asking to be bailed out with

...

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