Surfers unite at sewage protests across the south

ITV News

18-05-2025

Campaigners from the south have joined a nationwide protest against sewage pollution in our seas and rivers.
Surfers, swimmers and kayakers took part in a mass Paddle-Out at more than 40 sites across the country, including Brighton, Hastings, Boscombe, Ryde, Bournemouth and Lyme Regis, and at Victoria Park Boating Pond in Newbury.
Co-ordinated by the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), the protests called for transformational reform of the water industry. They believe sewage pollution remains a threat to the UK's blue spaces and public health.
The protests took place at the start of the official bathing season in England and Wales - which runs from 15 May to 30 September.
Last year, there were 8,704 sewage discharges in England during the bathing season, an average of more than 60 a day.
Stuart Davies, organiser of the Brighton Pier Paddle-Out Protest said: 'We are paddling out to call for total reform of the water industry because we seem to be in the same place each year.
"We see record levels of sewage pollution in our blue spaces, especially here on the south coast.
"It makes me extremely angry. Many a time, I have been personally affected. I can't go sea swimming. I can't go surfing.
"I also volunteer for the Wave Project which provides surf therapy for young people. That's been cancelled a few times, and we couldn't go in the water."
Giles Bristow, CEO at Surfers Against Sewage said: 'Our failing water industry has been trumpeting billions in investment to clean up their act, but we know that these fat cat bosses can't be trusted to keep their promises.
"The proof is in the missed targets, shocking statistics and devastating stories of sickness we continue to see year after year.
"We've had enough of their lies, greed and incompetence and know that this nightmare will not end until the whole water system is radically reformed."
Southern Water says their Clean Rivers and Seas Plan shows how they intend to reduce storm overflows across the region.
They say they have invested £1.6 billion into the company in recent years, to help deliver a "significant programme of improvement."
On their website Thames Water says "We want to be very clear on our stance.
"Putting untreated sewage into rivers is unacceptable to us, our customers and the environment.