In an unprecedented act of environmental protest, a Lake District radio DJ is preparing for a 24-hour broadcasting marathon dedicated entirely to songs that peaked at number two in the charts. The musical theme highlights what he describes as the "number two" pollution crisis devastating Windermere.
The Sound of Protest
Lee Durrant, a presenter for Lake District Radio, will begin his extraordinary broadcast at 8am on 14 November, playing exclusively tracks that never quite reached the top spot. The clever concept draws attention to the ongoing scandal of illegal sewage discharges into England's largest lake.
"What's more shocking? Fairytale of New York never making it to Christmas No 1, or United Utilities dumping sewage into Windermere and paying themselves huge dividends?" Durrant questioned ahead of his marathon session.
Pollution Crisis in a National Treasure
The protest comes amid alarming findings about Windermere's water quality. Comprehensive analysis revealed the lake contained high levels of bacteria from human faeces throughout this summer. This contamination risks both human health and the survival of local wildlife, despite Windermere's protected status as part of a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site.
Durrant emphasised the broader significance of the issue, stating: "We're based in the Lake District so we're passionate about what's happening to our lakes, but it's become a wider issue across the country and around the world with sewage-dumping in what we'd assume would be clean waterways."
United Voices Against Pollution
During his 24-hour broadcast, Durrant won't be fighting alone. He'll be joined by representatives from prominent environmental organisations including Save Windermere and Surfers Against Sewage, alongside environmental experts and even representatives from water companies themselves.
The musical protest will feature appropriately themed number two hits with riverine connections, from Take That's The Flood to Dirty Cash by the Adventures of Stevie V.
The situation in Windermere reflects a national crisis, with official statistics showing that only 14% of England's rivers and lakes meet good ecological standards.
As for the marathon itself, Durrant admitted mixed feelings: "I'm sort of looking forward to it and sort of dreading it. I'm predicting the witching hour of 3am will be when I'll struggle. I might need to play some heavy rock to get me through that."
