The chairman of the environment watchdog met with water company lobbyists for a near-£100 dinner days before proposals for a major bill hike were reported.
The regulator and water firms were accused of having a “chummy relationship”, by the Liberal Democrats, who revealed the hospitality and gifts received by Mr Lovell in a freedom of information request.The Environment Agency’s role is to investigate and punish water companies found to have illegally polluted waterways.
Mr Farron added: “This is a complete mess and further proof of a chummy relationship between water firms and the Government. “This industry is rotten to its core and needs to start from scratch, starting with a new regulator, a ban on bonuses and hospitality gifts and, above all else, a complete reform of water companies so profit is no longer put ahead of the environment.”