ITV GMB halted for ‘breaking news’ as Charlotte Hawkins forced to intervene
The popular morning show Good Morning Britain was interrupted by Charlotte Hawkins as she shared some breaking news. The Wednesday episode was hosted by Ed Balls and Susanna Reid, who were discussing the latest headlines with viewers across the UK.
Charlotte Hawkins, who is 49 years old, joined them in the studio to cover the rest of the day’s top stories. However, during her report, she suddenly paused to make an important announcement.
Charlotte revealed that Ofwat, the industry regulator for water services in England and Wales, is investigating Thames Water. The investigation focuses on whether the company failed to deliver environmental improvement projects over the past five years. Thames Water had committed to completing 812 environmental schemes but admitted that 100 of them would likely not be finished by March this year.
These schemes were part of the Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP) for the 2020-2025 period. They were designed to reduce the environmental impact of water companies, including upgrades to sewage treatment facilities and reducing wastewater spills. The delay in completing these projects has raised concerns, especially since customers have already paid for these improvements through their bills.
The current pricing period ends in March, and starting in April, Thames Water customers will face higher bills over the next five years to fund further infrastructure upgrades. Lynn Parker, Ofwat’s senior director for enforcement, stated that customers have paid for these essential environmental projects, and the regulator takes any failure to meet legal obligations very seriously. She added that Ofwat has launched an investigation to determine whether Thames Water breached its obligations. If wrongdoing is found, Ofwat will use its powers to hold the company accountable and ensure the issues are resolved.
Thames Water is currently the only company regulated by Ofwat facing an investigation into its environmental protection programs. The company is already under financial strain, with its parent company at risk of running out of money by late March. If Thames Water does not receive court approval for a restructuring plan, it could enter special administration, a form of insolvency for essential public services.
This breaking news highlights the challenges facing Thames Water and the potential consequences for its customers and the environment.
