A motion of no confidence in Southern Water has been passed by an Isle of Wight public body after ‘repeated infrastructure failures’.
East Cowes Town Council (ECTC) declared no confidence in the company’s current management of wastewater and sewage infrastructure serving East Cowes and the surrounding Medina, at its 17th September meeting.
The agreed text mentions repeated infrastructure failures, pollution incidents and sewage discharges affecting residents, local waters and the environment.
In response, a Southern Water spokesperson said the utility takes concerns about its performance seriously and recognises customers in the Cowes area want to see further improvements to the wastewater network.
ECTC’s passed motion said:
“The council calls upon Southern Water to provide a clear, fully costed and time-bound programme of investment and remedial works for the infrastructure serving East Cowes, including measures necessary to improve network resilience and reduce the risk of further pollution incidents.”
An ECTC spokesperson said councillors have considered several sewage-related incidents affecting the town, including the untreated wastewater pipe burst at Millfield Avenue, which resulted in sewage entering Old Road and surrounding gardens, driveways, and garages.
They added that the incident caused damage to the highway, affected access to Holy Cross School, and was followed by Southern Water warnings against bathing in the sea around East Cowes.
Members have also received information presented by independent county councillor Becca Cameron regarding sewage discharges and their impact on residents and the local environment.
A Southern Water spokesperson said:
“We take concerns about our performance seriously and recognise our customers in the Cowes area want to see further improvements to the wastewater network.
“That’s why we are investing millions of pounds to reduce storm overflows, improve infrastructure and enhance environmental performance across the Island.
“We have made a series of commitments focused on reducing spills, strengthening engagement, improving communication and increasing transparency. This will be helped by more than £67m of investment across the Island.
“We also held a Your Water Matters event on the Isle of Wight earlier this month, to discuss concerns with customers.”
I can well understand the frustration of ECTC.
This motion though will be roundly ignored by Southern Water, just as they roundly ignore any other customer criticism.
But other than passing purely performative motions, what can it do?
Southern Water is a terrible utility provider.
But its prime purpose isn’t to be a utility provider.
It is majority owned by Australian multinational investment bank and financial services group, Macquarie.
So long as the profits keep rolling in from its unfair market monopoly, it doesn’t matter to Macquarie or their SW executives how bad the reputation is. It’s all about the money.
Vital national infrastructure such as water, electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, transport, defence, roads, etc., etc., etc. should be held in common by the state for the benefit of the whole population.
But of course there are myriad right-wingers who’d accuse me of being a “looney leftie” for suggesting such a thing!