Save Windermere founder Matt Staniek wins environment award

Matt Staniek, founder of the Save Windermere campaign, has won the ‘Changemaker of the Year Award’ at the 2023 National Park Protector Awards in the House of Commons.

The Campaign for National Parks praised Mr Staniek for his 'high impact and beautifully produced videos' and his work 'highlighting water company pollution in Windermere.'

“Matt has built, from nothing, a movement that has steadily put a local issue onto the national stage," said the award citation.

Matt Staniek at Windermere (Image: Submitted)

Speaking from the stage, Mr Staniek repeated his call for the complete removal of all sewage discharges into the Windermere catchment.

He said: “United Utilities’ operations are currently and have historically been the largest input of nutrient into the lake. We are campaigning for an end to sewage pollution in its entirety.

“We need government intervention for Windermere, we need enforcement of the law, we need hundreds of millions of pounds invested and we ultimately need to stop the sewage going into the lake. This is what’s required to ensure the protection of this nation's lake forever.”

The award comes after Environment Agency’s annual report showed that United Utilities’ environmental rating dropped from four stars to three.

Algal blooms in Windermere (Image: Submitted)

In response, a United Utilities spokesman said: “We all want to see the cleanest possible water in Windermere, which is why we at United Utilities will be playing our part. We are already planning projects at four sites around the lake to meet the new requirements of the Environment Act, bringing forward £19m of investment over the next two years.

“The Love Windermere partnership is working towards improved water quality in Windermere and will naturally explore the feasibility of any potential solutions."