I recently visited Southern Water’s Sewage Treatment Centre at Motney Hill in my constituency to see the work being done at this facility, which serves a population of around 270,000. Many constituents have written to me about concerns regarding sewage spilling into our rivers and seas. During my visit, I had constructive conversations about the work being done to address this issue, while also highlighting the concerns you have raised about increasing costs.
Longer term I believe we need to fundamentally change how the water industry in the UK works, including exploring nationalisation. In the immediate future, I will continue working with Southern Water to ensure your concerns remain at the forefront as the industry undergoes necessary changes mandated by the government’s landmark Water (Special Measures) Bill, which aims to ensure the highest environmental standards for our rivers and seas.