Islanders will have the chance to join a national protest this weekend as Surfers Against Sewage hosts its annual Paddle Out Protest, with a local event taking place at Appley Beach in Ryde at 11:00 on Saturday (17th May).
The demonstration is 1 of 42 taking place across the UK, aiming to raise awareness of ongoing sewage pollution in seas and rivers. The protest movement continues to grow amid mounting frustration over the rising number of sewage spills, particularly on the Isle of Wight and the surrounding South Coast.
Southern Water had previously shown some progress, reducing the number of spills to 17,000 in 2022. However, this trend has since reversed. In both 2023 and 2024, there have been close to 30,000 discharges in the region. One notable improvement came at Gurnard, where pressure from local campaigners led to a reduction in sewage releases at the popular beach – but recent reports indicate that levels are once again on the rise.
A spokesperson for the campaign has said:
“We encourage locals to take part in this national day of action to help keep up the pressure on water companies, and the government who bear responsibility for the regulation of their activities.
“There has been some progress, but we need to show that these temporary improvements are not enough. The return of high discharge levels shows that lasting change is still a long way off.”
The Paddle Out Protest invites swimmers, paddleboarders, surfers and supporters alike to join the collective action and demand cleaner waters across the UK.
Does demonstrating ever work, from what I
have seen over the years, no one in control
listens.
Have to agree on that one. Total waste of time. Like the pun