The Government has launched a six-week consultation on new measures to protect England's coastal waters from sewage.

The consultation will look at ways to extend protection from sewage to cover all coasts, estuaries and marine protected sites not currently covered by the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan.

The plan, which was published in August 2022 included large water company infrastructure developments, with funding of £56 billion. The current plan covers 91% of storm overflows.

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Commenting on the possibility of new measures Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: "While 93% of our beaches with designated bathing status are already rated excellent or good, there is still more to do to better protect our hugely important coasts and estuaries.

"That is why I am consulting to extend our stringent targets to cover every storm overflow in England – protecting people and the environment across the country."

The consultation includes proposals to build new infrastructure, introduce stronger regulation and improving enforcement. The consultation closes on 24 July.