Welsh Water has been fined £1.35 million pounds for breaches of their environmental permits blaming internal restructuring, IT issues and the pandemic.

The fine should be spent in Wales, says Janet Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy.

She stressed that the money must be used to improve the environment in Wales, as the breaches created pollution that Wales had to deal with.

Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: "Whilst I have previously stated that water companies in Wales should be allowed to undertake environmental undertakings in lieu of a fine, so to undo the damage caused, in the absence of that option, we need urgent assurance that the £1.35m fine will be spent here in Wales.

“A fine paid for environmental harm caused to Wales should be spent on improving the environment in Wales."

She also added that the carelessness of the company was ultimately a fine on bill payers who had seen prices rise this year.

“What is most frustrating of all is that such poor management by Welsh Water is ultimately a fine on all of us rate payers, because it is our water bills, which are already up 27% this year, which will be used to pay the penalty”.