The impact of the long-standing problem of nitrate & phosphate pollution and sewage discharges in rivers was among many discussion points.
Water policy affecting new housebuilding and existing rural homes was top of the agenda during a constituency visit by Sarah Dyke MP this week.
The MP for Glastonbury & Somerton visited the Glastonbury branch of Bradfords Building Supplies, the country's oldest builders' merchant, to discuss water pollution, water quality and flood resilience in Somerset and throughout the West Country.
Sarah Dyke MP, Liberal Democrats' Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, was welcomed by David Young (Chief Executive), David Dykes (Branch Director) and Brett Amphlett (Builders Merchants' Federation). Touring the branch, Dyke was shown examples of the sustainable materials and products available to Bradfords' customers.
Dyke said: "It was good to visit Bradfords and discuss the steps they are taking to reduce their environmental impact and respond to the transition towards a lower-carbon economy".
"I was particularly interested to hear about the challenges and opportunities facing the building and construction sector, and the role businesses like Bradfords can play in supporting more sustainable approaches.
"As a long-standing family business with more than 255 years of history, Bradfords is an important local employer and contributor to the economy in Glastonbury and Somerton, across Somerset and beyond."
The recent heatwaves have focussed attention on worsening drought conditions and the need to educate the public about water conservation. Indoors, this means tightening the Building Regulations by amending the minimum water efficiency standard for new homes. Outdoors, it means fitting water butts and rainwater harvesting systems to new and existing properties to ease the increasing pressure on water resources.
Young outlined to Dyke the impact of the long-standing problem of nitrate & phosphate pollution and sewage discharges in rivers. He wants fresh impetus to resolve nutrient neutrality - because merchants' sales in the affected districts have fallen substantially - and thousands of desperately-needed rural homes have not been built. The hot weather exacerbates the problem by encouraging the growth of algae, and higher concentrations of nitrates & phosphates, in watercourses with low, slow-flowing water levels.
Young said: "We were happy to welcome Sarah today and show her how Bradfords has evolved since we began in 1770 as a quarrying business. We are grateful to her for taking an interest in a local business like ours and offering insight and support to help merchants to keep trading, despite the tough times we all face in a flatlining housing market."
"Running a successful business is far harder now than it was back when Bradfords started. The burden of regulation and taxation on employers today makes it more difficult and time-consuming to be a financially stable business, offering good jobs and investing in the communities that we serve".
The visit was another arranged by the Builders Merchants Federation as part of its industry and parliament programme. The aim is to show MPs the role, value and importance of merchants in delivering for their customers and communities.
Dyke noted that, in mid-October, it will be Flood Action Week, when the Environment Agency and BMF members like Bradfords will promote ‘Be Flood Ready'. This annual campaign seeks to raise awareness of flood risk and resilience - and practical steps that households, businesses and communities can take to prepare and protect property.
Merchants and manufacturers want to grow the market for the materials & products used in local property-level resilience - notably anti-flood air bricks & air brick covers and non-return back-flow valves.
Terry Sloman, South West Area Sales Manager of Fernco, showed the MP some of the products that they make in Barnsley. Bradfords and Fernco support Flood Action Week and are planning further in-branch activity during October 2026 as they did last autumn in Glastonbury and elsewhere.
