Latest news with #SouthernWater
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Deep concern' over water pollution at bathing site
An MP has urged water bosses to take action over pollution. Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, is seeking an 'urgent meeting' with Southern Water due to 'continuing failures' regarding water contamination. Worthing Beach House, a bathing water site located near Splashpoint Leisure Centre, was designated poor by the Environment Agency last year, meaning swimming is not advised. Ms Cooper has described the water quality as "extremely poor' and said she has 'deep concerns'. Her statement said: 'I know that Worthing Borough Council have worked hard to achieve bathing water status by recruiting volunteer 'citizen scientists' to monitor pollution levels at this and other sites, only to find that the water off Beach House in particular is of such a poor quality that the public are advised not to swim in it. Worthing West MP Beccy Cooper (Image: Supplied) 'I am very alarmed that repeated pollution incidents will continue to impact public health and our coastal environment as we move into the busy bathing season and would like to seek reassurance that Southern Water is doing everything in its power to prevent this – as has clearly not been the case up to now. 'On behalf of my constituents therefore, can you please inform me of the causes of this recent decline in water quality and give me details of immediate and long-term measures being taken to prevent further pollution events. 'I would also like to see detailed information on your work with the council and Environment Agency to monitor and respond to water quality issues. READ MORE: Lake identified as a potential source of contamination at beach 'Furthermore, I would like to see improved transparency on this from Southern Water, with more open and regular communication with the public, especially during the summer season. 'Finally, I would like to request a formal written response on the issue and to suggest that as a matter of urgency we meet to discuss this and other matters further.' A spokesman for Southern Water said: 'We're pleased that Dr Cooper shares our concern for bathing water quality and we have been in contact to arrange a meeting to discuss how bathing water quality can be improved. 'There are many causes of contamination in bathing water – agricultural and road runoff, wildlife and human behaviour on the beach to name a few. 'On the official government website, it has been noted by the Environment Agency that at Worthing Beach House the likely main source of contamination is 'urban diffuse pollution entering through the surface water system'. 'This means the work of our misconnections team, which tracks down loos and washing machines wrongly connected to surface water drains instead of our sewer system, is vital to continue to improve bathing water quality. 'We are also investing in sewer investigations and rehabilitation where needed.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Sewage pipe upgrades making Angmering feel 'deserted'
Business owners say work to upgrade the sewage network for housing developments are making a West Sussex village feel "deserted".The works around Water Lane, Angmering, started on 19 May and are set to continue until said it had already impacted trade because people were not able to drive through the village any Water apologised and said it would have rolling road closures in place. "The extensive development of new homes has been unabated, it affects all of the traders in the square," said Lee Newbon, owner of The Lamb pub."The traffic has been stopped, it's affecting our livelihoods. It appears we're going to be without through traffic for months. We all depend on it."At the moment you can go outside the pub and it's deserted." 'We're all pretty angry' The sewage pipe upgrades are feeding into several housing developments in the area, the largest being the 525-home Langmead Place housing estate, which is north east of the village near the King, owner of Meat in The Square butchers, said: "We're all pretty angry, I think there's roads that have been shut which could have stayed open."The bank holiday weekend was pretty dire, the first bank holiday [in May] was incredible, and this was just an average week."Justin Cannon, co-owner of Juna Home & Garden cafe, said: "It's been quite hard, people are struggling to get into the village because of the roadworks."There will be two more phases where the pipe will be upgraded underneath Water Lane. The final phase should start in September and end in December at Weavers Water is not a statutory consultee on planning applications and has an obligation to connect new developments to its network when planning applications are company said it held a drop-in session in April and sent out more than 3,000 customer letters. It said the sewage pipe upgrades were for several different developers.A spokesperson said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to Angmering residents and businesses while we upgrade the sewer network along Water Lane."We have put rolling closures in place to minimise disruption along with details of diversion routes. "We will continue to update affected customers on our progress."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Totton students late for GCSE due to Redbridge flyover works
Students were "upset" at being late for one of their GCSE exams as a result of controversial roadworks in the city, a headteacher has Veal, headteacher of Hounsdown School in Totton, Hampshire, said students experienced "profound" traffic problems as a result of Southern Water's works to fix a faced queues of up to two hours as a result of the eastbound carriageway closure on the A35 Redbridge flyover into Southampton from Totton, which started on Tuesday.A spokesperson for Southern Water apologised for the disruption, adding that limiting disruption was "challenging" on "arterial routes like this one". "We will take away all learnings from this week to explore how we may be able to improve and adapt our approach to similar challenges in the future," they added. The closure of one of the main routes into the city caused traffic described as "horrendous" by one driver, with some reporting that it took them an hour to move less than 1.6km (1 mile).Mr Veal said he had to delay the start of an English literature GCSE by 40 minutes on Tuesday because school buses were caught up in the delays - but the students on board did not know that."There were students stuck on a school bus... in traffic with these delays, thinking that their GCSE English literature exam had started without them," he said staff and invigilators were also late a result of the congestion, and questioned why the work did not take place next week - during half Keogh, Southampton City Council's cabinet member for transport, said the council had to grant Southern Water the permit because it was for emergency added that the available space on the bridge, the proximity of slip roads, the bend in the road and the blind summit meant the Southern Water was unable to open a lane on the flyover. 'Not a good start' Mr Veal said the students "coped admirably under the circumstances", and praised his staff for supporting them as best they could."But its not a great start for them at such an important time in their lives," he said."They've put an enormous amount of work and preparation into this and so they found that extremely difficult."He said he "sincerely" hoped it did not affect results."But it is possible," he said."The state of mind of young people before they start their exam is a factor."He said the school would apply for a concession through the exam board. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warning against swimming after sewage spill
Swimmers are being urged to avoid using a beach in Kent due to "pollution from sewage". The alert at Sandgate Beach, near Folkestone, is expected to last until 24 May, according to the Environment Agency (EA). Sandgate and West Folkestone ward councillor Tim Prater said a drain near The Sandgate Hotel "seems to be discharging sewage onto the beach". But Southern Water said a damaged sewer pipe caused the spill, and the discharge had "not affected bathing water quality." "The discharge from the surface water outfall has not entered the sea," it said. The water company added that the incident was reported on Wednesday and it immediately sent teams to the Esplanade. It has since "introduced a series of measures to protect the local environment, including tankers to control flows through the area". Councillor Prater says the anti-swimming advisory could be lifted sooner than forecast. Folkestone and Hythe District Council confirmed the EA and Southern Water were "working to fix" the sewage leak and that signage was being installed at the site. The EA's most recent water quality classification for Sandgate was "excellent", based on samples it took between 2021 and 2024. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. 'Sewage has hit tourism - we must adapt or close' Southern Water pleads guilty to 13 Kent sewage spills Environment Agency Folkestone & Hythe District Council Southern Water
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Sandgate Beach sewage leak prompts warning against swimming
Swimmers are being urged to avoid using a beach in Kent due to "pollution from sewage".The alert at Sandgate Beach, near Folkestone, is expected to last until 24 May, according to the Environment Agency (EA).Sandgate and West Folkestone ward councillor Tim Prater said a drain near The Sandgate Hotel "seems to be discharging sewage onto the beach".But Southern Water said a damaged sewer pipe caused the spill, and the discharge had "not affected bathing water quality." "The discharge from the surface water outfall has not entered the sea," it water company added that the incident was reported on Wednesday and it immediately sent teams to the has since "introduced a series of measures to protect the local environment, including tankers to control flows through the area". Councillor Prater says the anti-swimming advisory could be lifted sooner than and Hythe District Council confirmed the EA and Southern Water were "working to fix" the sewage leak and that signage was being installed at the EA's most recent water quality classification for Sandgate was "excellent", based on samples it took between 2021 and 2024.
