2 weeks Ago
Councillors have criticised Southern Water following the publication of a ‘landmark’ council investigation. On Thursday, Lewes District Council Members discussed recommendations made in the Southern Water Scrutiny Panel. This was following an investigation report published in November 2023, which engaged with Southern Water to discuss sewage pollution in the local area.
Findings in the report discussed a range of issues including infrastructure, sewage discharge points and rising wastewater bills. Green councillor for Seaford East and deputy chairman of the panel, Ezra Cohen said the report as ‘shocking’. He said: “The more you look, the more you find that the entire water system, from the ownership model to the finances, from water regulation to enforcement, and from environmental and human protections to technological requirements, is dysfunctional and not fit for purpose.
"The panel’s report is filled with shocking details.” The party criticised the report findings into infrastructure and the impact on customers’ bills. Green Councillor Paul Keen, chairman of the Lewes District Council panel, said: “Southern Water is seeking to make us pay to fix a problem created by its failing to sufficiently invest in infrastructure for decades, while paying out vast sums in dividends and loading the company with debt.
” The party assured residents that they are ‘doing everything’ to improve the situation. Councillor Emily O’Brien, Cabinet member for climate, nature, and food systems at Lewes District Council, said: “Green councillors are making sure that at Lewes District Council, we’re doing everything we can to lobby the Labour Government to make the reforms which will improve the situation. “In the meantime, we’re engaging constructively with Southern Water to improve human and environmental health and wellbeing outcomes, and we’re redoubling our efforts to take the local actions we can to hold water companies to account, manage water better at source to relieve pressure on the sewage network, improve the water environment and to raise awareness of water quality issues in the district.
” A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “We recognise that we have a lot of work to do to continue to improve our environmental performance so that it meets the expectations of our customers and helps to protect and enhance our environment. “A key part of this is delivering our £1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, to cut our reliance on the historic network of storm overflows which were designed to prevent homes flooding when sewers become overloaded by rain and groundwater.
“Alongside investing heavily in a range of engineering and nature-based solutions to keep our pipes moving, we are collaborating with more and more partners, like local authorities, to ensure this approach is as joined up and sustainable as possible.”.
