Southern Water bosses are set to face Isle of Wight councillors this week amid growing concerns over sewage discharges, bathing water quality and the impact on the Island’s environment and tourism industry.
Representatives from the water company will deliver a presentation to the Isle of Wight Council’s Environment and Community Protection Committee on Thursday (5th November), following calls for greater accountability over its environmental performance.
The appearance follows a motion passed by councillors in July requesting that a senior Southern Water representative attend a relevant committee periodically to explain the company’s environmental record and provide updates on progress.
It also comes just days after Sandown Town Council unanimously declared it had no confidence in Southern Water’s management of its current and proposed operations in the town.
The town council’s decision, made on 26th October, followed concerns over sewage discharges, declining bathing water quality, persistent odour problems and what it described as a lack of meaningful community engagement.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said a meeting between councillors and Southern Water in June had resulted in a shared commitment to improving outcomes for residents, businesses and the environment.
Councillor Mark Rochell, Liberal Democrat representative for Bembridge, welcomed Southern Water’s efforts to provide the council with a list of clear commitments and improve communication with both the authority and the public.
He said:
“I’m also looking forward to welcoming them to Bembridge in the next few weeks for a public meeting which will allow them to explain their specific plans for Bembridge.
“However, as always, what really matters are actions rather than words. It will therefore be interesting to hear from them next week as to how they are progressing in meeting the commitments they have made to the Island and its rivers and coastlines.”
Councillor Ed Blake, leader of the Isle of Wight Conservatives, said residents had been left outraged by the number of untreated sewage discharges into the environment.
He said:
“I want to hear how Southern Water plan to stop this worsening situation and give timescales that we can hold them to account on.
“The government want to enforce 1,300 homes being built on the Island per year; how is that possible when the infrastructure we have got is already overwhelmed.
“We are a tourism-based economy attracting people to bathe in our waters; raw sewage being deposited into our seas threatens that.”
Southern Water has previously said it takes concerns about its performance seriously and is investing millions of pounds to reduce storm overflows, improve infrastructure and enhance its environmental performance across the Isle of Wight.
The company’s presentation will take place at County Hall in Newport on Thursday (5th November), with the committee meeting beginning at 17:00.
Southern Water has been approached for further comment.
