GOVERNMENT plans to block the bonuses of water company bosses who fail to stop illegal sewage spills have been dismissed as merely “symbolic” by environment group Greenpeace.

The campaign group is calling for fundamental change in the industry and has accused companies of using privatisation to borrow tens of billions of pounds that was dished out to shareholders in dividends while water infrastructure was starved of investment.

A consultation by government regulator Ofwat on the potential blocking of polluting firm bosses’ bonuses was announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay on Sunday.