Anglian Water vows Southend sewage to be cut by 75 per cent

Since the beginning of April, 15 “beach aware” alerts have been issued for Southend because of dangerous levels of pollution, a figure which Southend West MP, Anna Firth, condemned as “completely unacceptable”.

But at a summit at Southend’s Sealife Adventure Zooquarium, a senior Anglian Water official said the firm will slash sewage overflows to a quarter of its current figure by 2030, which is five years ahead of the target set by the Government.

Commitment – Anna Firth with Southend Against Sewage campaigners after the summit (Image: N/A)

The commitment, made by Anglian Water director of quality and environment Dr Robin Price, came at a summit where representatives from a range of pressure groups argued Southend’s problem with water pollution needed addressing urgently.

Among the groups in attendance were Southend against Sewage, Surfers against Sewage and the Bluetits Chill Swimmers, as well as representatives from Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water.

Ofwat, the water services regulation authority, did not attend – a move which Mrs Firth described as “very disappointing”.According to the Environment Agency, Anglian Water recorded nearly a quarter of the UK’s serious pollution incidents in 2021, with the firm’s chief executive still going on to receive a bonus of more than £330,000 the following year.

Forward step – Sir James Duddridge, Dr Robin Price, and Anna Firth with members of the Sealife team (Image: N/A)

But Dr Price has said it is Anglian Water’s intention to make Southend an “international exemplar for surface water management”.

He said: “I feel we’ve been able to provide and discuss a whole range of useful facts and information, and what we’ve ended up with is a real commitment to a partnership approach to tackling the issues of overflows and water quality, which I believe will make Southend an international exemplar for best practice in this space.“I think one of the top real action points for me is building on the really positive partnership we have with Southend Council and key business leaders in the city, particularly Sealife. I look forward to further discussions and beginning to see some really transformational outcomes.”

Target – a group photo is taken at the end of the summit where Anglian Water committed to cutting sewage by 75 per cent five years early (Image: N/A)

Mrs Firth added: “Today’s second water summit was a huge success, and I am particularly delighted with Anglian Water’s public commitment to eliminating 75 per cent of all use of storm overflows in Southend by 2030, five years ahead of the Government’s national target. I think this shows the power of grassroots engagement and accountability on these critical issues.”

Rochford and Southend East MP Sir James Duddridge said: “Firm commitments were made not just to meet, but to exceed the storm overflow reduction targets set by the Government.”

Labour councillors, including Kursaal councillor Matt Dent, were also in attendance.

He said Anglian Water outlined the various measures it was taking, but added actions could result in 17 per cent rise in bills over the next five or six years.

He said: “I and others made the point that Anglian Water are a monopoly and people can’t just go to a different company. They are forced to pay this. I also mentioned that they paid out £92million in dividends last year and maybe if they were less bothered about rewarding their investors and and more bothered with dealing with infrastructure problems, that money could be put to better use.”