Thames Water lenders demand government blocks campaigners from legal action

Creditors owed £13bn say ministers should prioritise ‘environmental betterment over punitive enforcement’

Lenders trying to take control of Thames Water are attempting to thwart environmental campaigners by asking the government to block them from pursuing high court claims.

Creditors owed £13bn by Britain’s biggest water company want ministers to order the Environment Agency (EA) to prioritise “environmental betterment over punitive enforcement” – which they believe would “significantly mitigate” the risk of campaigners bringing judicial reviews or private prosecutions.