A group of more than 20 local councils in the south-east, including Folkestone & Hythe District Council, are demanding more action from Southern Water over its pollution and flooding problems.
The Southern Water Stakeholder Group, led by Cllr Jim Martin, is sending a letter to the Environment Secretary, urging him to provide more resources for the Environment Agency to monitor and regulate the water company.
The group is concerned about the impact of Southern Water’s operations on the environment and public health, especially after recent incidents of sewage spills and flooding in the region.
Cllr Martin explained: “Last month I voiced concerns about Southern Water’s performance and asked whether it is doing enough to protect our district’s coastal waters. We are not the only ones to have these concerns and I feel that it is sensible that we act together to hold Southern Water to account on behalf of all our residents.
“At a recent stakeholder meeting we listened to the Environment Agency outlining Southern Water’s consistent failure to meet environmental standards. It was agreed we should work to ensure the agency is properly resourced to effectively hold the water company to account.”
The next meeting of the Southern Water Stakeholder Group, initiated and coordinated by Wealden District Council in East Sussex, will be held early next year.