Southern Water has pledged to provide both temporary and long-term solutions to alleviate flooding at Bembridge Point and hold a public meeting in the area, an Isle of Wight councillor has said.
‘Reducing storm overflow discharges’ is also listed in a table of issues and action points from the utility firm, which Liberal Democrat ward representative Mark Rochell shared at Bembridge Parish Council last week (Wednesday 22nd July).
Storm overflows act as relief valves built into the combined sewer system and discharge excess sewage and rainwater to rivers, lakes, groundwater or the sea, when the system is strained, according to the Environment Agency.
At Bembridge Village Hall, Cllr Rochell said:
“If you’ve seen the news about the previous CEO – has just been charged with fraud – probably explains why Lawrence is being so nice and trying so hard at the moment.
“He has given the whole of the council…commitments to the Island. They’re not a commitment to do better – they are quantifiable commitments…with timeframes that we have to hold them to.”
The list from the current Southern Water CEO, Lawrence Gosden, mentions ongoing flooding risk to customers in Bembridge ‘requiring immediate mitigation’ and ‘strong local concern’ in the area which requires direct ‘engagement and reassurance’.
Another box in the table says a permanent solution in Bembridge must be identified which does not include the repair of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) at Bembridge Point.
Plans to restore the pipe were paused following backlash and a protest with over 100 people, with locals concerned sewage would be ‘dumped’ on the beach.
The row also prompted former Conservative councillor Warren Drew to threaten legal action against Southern Water.
Speaking after the parish council meeting, Cllr Rochell said:
“The big if is if they follow through with these things (commitments) it’s a great start, it’s a massive improvement on what they’ve done in the past.
“But now they need to start actually delivering. If we’re here this time next year and they haven’t done any of those three things…then we’re back to…there’s no confidence at all in you, we can’t work with you anymore.”
On Southern Water’s recent record in Bembridge, he said the whole ‘CSO debacle’ was ‘terrible’.
The councillor said everything possible must be done to stop sewage going into the sea and pointed to seagrass and protected wildlife off the coast from the village.
Asked what steps he will take to try to hold Southern Water’s feet to the fire, Cllr Rochell said he has been in ‘constant communication’ with Mr Gosden and his team. He also mentioned ‘putting the pressure on’ as well as asking for meetings and updates.
The representative said he supported the rejected Isle of Wight Council motion expressing no confidence in a range of the utility’s work because it was ‘important’ to reflect the ‘anger’ people feel about what has been happening to date.
It followed a petition with over 3,300 signatures that said residents ‘have had enough’ of repeated sewage pollution, poor accountability, environmental damage and excuses.
Southern Water has been approached for comment.
