Bexhill and Battle constituency MP, Huw Merriman, called on the government and water industry bodies to prioritise Bexhill for investment aimed at improving water quality during an urgent question on sewage pollution in the House of Commons today.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Huw asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the government would give bathing water beaches, like Bexhill, which do not have a good or excellent water quality, higher priority in the new investment programme which is designed to reduce discharges of storm overflows. Explaining the situation in Bexhill he said “Today, Bexhill's beach is red-flagged; yesterday, similarly red-flagged, meaning that people should not enter the sea. It is also the only beach in the area that is not rated 'excellent' or 'good' for its bathing quality.”
In reply, the Environment Secretary gave the MP absolute assurance that the government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction plan, published on 26 August 2022, would prioritise bathing waters in the near term investments.
Speaking afterwards Huw said:
“Bexhill’s beach is the only one in the wider area which is not excellent or good for bathing water quality. It is essential for the public health of residents and visitors and for our local businesses that Bexhill beach is quickly brought up to good or excellent bathing water standards. I was pleased to hear the Secretary of State’s assurances that poor bathing waters will be prioritised for investment in the government’s new Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. This must, therefore, mean prioritisation for Bexhill.
“I have been pressing for action for months to end the sewage pollution of our seas and rivers. To keep this high on the government’s agenda and to help understand the issue in more detail, I have also secured a debate in Parliament on sewage discharges in Parliament next Wednesday afternoon. The issue is complex. Responsibility lies beyond Southern Water. I want to ensure that each body with a role to play makes a commitments to deliver a solution which improves the quality of our bathing water.”
For further information on Storm Overflows Reduction Plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storm-overflows-discharge-reduction-plan
