Council passes vote of no confidence in water firm

Councillors have passed a vote of no confidence in South West Water, arguing the company has failed to manage sewage systems.

Cornwall Council members raised concerns over raw sewage spills in seas and rivers, which they said continued to impact the county's environment and public health, despite record bills.

The vote also called for the government to remove the firm from local water and wastewater systems, transferring management to a publicly-owned organisation.

South West Water said it recognised "concerns about water quality in Cornwall" but insisted it was investing £760m to tackle storm overflows. It added it had "reduced spills by 17% in the last year, with spill duration down by 25%".

A total of 68 members voted in favour of the motion at the meeting on Tuesday, with two members abstaining.

It comes after a number of similar votes of no confidence from 60 town and parish councils in Cornwall in recent months.

Loveday Jenkin, the councillor who put forward the debate, said it was not a criticism of those working for South West Water in Cornwall, but focused on the company's senior management and infrastructure.

Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said the current model was not working.

"We are paying more and more as bill-payers, and we're getting less for that, and that's not fair and that's not right," he said.

"So, what we are saying is, we need to look at the model; the model needs to change."

He added: "South West Water is not an isolated incident.

"This is a national issue across our whole water industry, so I'd like to think that the prime minister has got one eye on the situation."

Asked whether new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is likely to address the situation further, Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth Jayne Kirkham said it did seem "something he will probably be looking at very shortly now that he is in power".

Noting similar scrutiny around Thames Water in London, she added: "He has talked about taking control back of public infrastructure, so that may be something he is looking at."

She went on to note the complete nationalisation of water companies would come at a "huge expense" - the pros and cons of which would have to be weighed up carefully against alternative options.

Kirkham added: "As long as our water system gets better, as long as it's better regulated, that's the most important thing."

A spokesperson for South West Water, said: "We recognise concerns about water quality in Cornwall and we continue to work proactively with councils through regular bespoke briefings to explain our local plans and deliver improvements.

"We're investing £760m to tackle storm overflows and have reduced spills by 17% in last year, with spill duration down by 25%.

"We know there is more to do, but the data shows the plan is working."

South West Water provides water and sewerage services to about 1.8 million customers in Devon and Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, plus small parts of Dorset and Somerset.

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