Havant councillors unanimously pass no confidence vote in Southern Water over 'consistent failures'
Councillors cited a lack of trust after issues with water contamination
A vote of no confidence has been unanimously passed over Southern Water’s ability to protect the local environment, deliver robust infrastructure, or maintain public health standards within the borough
It came at a full council meeting of Havant Borough Council on October 7, councillors across the parties agreed that they and their constituents have no confidence in the water company, citing issues with sewage and water contamination, the controversial Havant Thicket reservoir project and an overall lack of trust in the company
The motion, proposed by Councillor Jonathan Hulls, stated that a vote of no confidence in Southern Water was a “necessary line in the sand” as the company had “consistently failed to meet acceptable standards”.
He said in the motion: “Repeated discharges of untreated sewage into Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, and off Hayling Island continue to damage international environmental designations, jeopardise public health, and harm our local tourism and marine economies.”
Councillor Grainne Rason called the amount of sewage discharge by Southern Water as a “faeces fiasco”.
Cllr Hulls said despite assurances from Southern Water that they would reduce discharge into local water, no changes or improvements materialised.
He said: “Words did not clear our harbours. Every single time it rains Southern Water relies on Chichester and Langstone Harbours.
“They are not taking their responsibilities seriously. We owe it to the people who elected us to say enough is enough.”
Travelling from London to speak at the meeting was Baroness Jenny Jones, Member of the House of Lords for the Green Party, who recently stopped paying her water bill to Thames Water due to concerns she has about their sewage discharge policies.
She expressed that Southern Water was focussing on large projects, like the Havant Thicket reservoir which includes thew controversial water recycling scheme, for money making purposes at the expense of the customer.
Plans were submitted in June by Southern Water to introduce the effluent recycling scheme to the reservoir, which would see where treated waste water would be put through an advanced chemical treatment so it can be reused as drinking water.
She said: “Members of both houses are speaking with great pride that this project is going forward, but there has been no open national debate and no robust consultation on whether people will happily drink the recycled water.
“Companies are prioritising large schemes which generate big returns and are funded by increasing debt funded by customers.
“Residents are asking if we can even trust Southern Water with this very complex technology of effluent recycling, which is new to the UK.”
Local residents also spoke at the meeting to back the no confidence motion. David Parnham, head of the local residents group Save Our Island, said through a representative that trusting Southern Water was a “folly”.
His representative said: “Councillors and customers have no power over Southern Water’s activities
“Today there are ten private business entities on top of and feeding on Southern Water as the cash cow at the bottom of this stack.
“It operates in a favoured environment with ‘light touch’ governance, no competition, and a guaranteed ‘forever’ revenue stream, the billpayers.”
Founder of Final Straw Foundation, Bianca Carr expressed concern over recent sewage discharge into local water sources.
She said: “People have watched sewage entering places where their children swim and wildlife should thrive. Southern Water’s documented failures include equipment breakdowns and delayed pollution reporting.
“Through the Clean Harbours Partnership, we helped investigate our harbours. Published research identified 105 pollutants across water, seaweed and shellfish samples, including cocaine, MDMA, oestrogen and antibiotics such as trimethoprim and more.”
She also questioned the safety of the recycled effluent that Southern Water, asking for “independently verified, published results” of what chemicals remain after the water treatment.
The CEO of Southern Water, Lawrence Gosden sent a letter to all councillors yesterday (October 7) prior to the debate, detailing the work the company has undertaken to assure its customers of its effectiveness. This included new investment at Budds Farm water treatment works to reduce sewage spills into Langstone Harbour and a £170 million programme across the Portsmouth Harbour catchment to reduce storm overflow use and sewage discharge.
They also assured that their work is continuing to attempt to meet the government target of fewer than 10 spills a year on average per overflow by 2050.
Councillor Daniel Berwick said of the letter: “It shouldn’t take getting to the point of a telling off to say ‘whoops, I’ll do better’.”
Baroness Jones said: “I find it extremely comforting but I did not believe a word of the letter and I recommend you not believe a word of it.”