A motion declaring no confidence in a range of Southern Water’s current work on the Island divided Isle of Wight councillors into three separate camps last week.
Motion rejected despite petition support
A 15-member cohort made up of Liberal Democrats, Greens, Conservatives, All for Islanders and Island First Network members, Labour and one Reform councillor supported the rejected proposal which followed a petition with over 3,300 signatures.
The motion criticised the utility’s handling of wastewater infrastructure, sewage discharges, public transparency, and communication with affected communities.
It also called for ‘urgent and serious’ government intervention if Southern Water fails to provide and deliver a ‘credible, funded and time-bound’ improvement plan capable of ‘restoring public confidence’ and meeting acceptable environmental and service standards.
However, a total of 17 Reform UK councillors defeated the motion, and a further six Island First Network and independent councillors abstained.
Councillors argue for and against
At the full council meeting on Wednesday (15th July 2026), All for Islanders councillor Becca Cameron spoke in favour of the no confidence bid. She said,
“This vote is not a political theatre. It’s a line in the sand.
“It tells residents that this council has heard them. It tells government, Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Southern Water that enough is enough.”
Councillor James Whelan, who leads the Reform UK group, said the motion lacked ‘teeth’.
He asked,
“No confidence, then what? It expresses the anger from the people…we all live here too. But it needs teeth and that’s why I will not be voting for this motion.”
Councillor Bacon also criticised the proposal, calling its wording ‘too weak’ and saying it does not call for ‘sufficient specific action’. He added,
“We risk undermining our ability to deal with these issues and deal with them in a strong way.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Lilley said he had campaigned for many years and written a ‘huge amount’ of letters to the chief executive of Southern Water.
“My ward particularly has got hit badly and has had many discharges in Ryde of sewage in the sea. I’ve been with parents who’ve had children who have been ill through that.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, of the Island First Network, said there is only so much the Isle of Wight Council can do.
“I’m looking to the government to step in. 1989, when our water was sold off under Margaret Thatcher. And what’s happened since? Profits sucked out into private pockets. Absolutely terrible, disgraceful way to use what is an essential of life.”
Alternative motion passed instead
An alternative combined motion on Southern Water from independent council leader Jonathan Bacon and Reform UK representative Les Kirkby was voted through, however.
The joint proposal says a formal letter will be written to Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, expressing the council’s ‘serious concerns’ over Southern Water’s environmental performance and requesting a review of whether expected regulatory and service standards are being met.
County Hall will also now establish a ‘clear evidence base’, bringing together data on the frequency, location and impact of sewage discharges affecting the Island from all relevant stakeholders, including affected residents, businesses, the tourism industry and public health agencies.
Councillors Becca Cameron and Chris Jarman of the All for Islanders group abstained on the passed motion.
Green Party criticises ‘weak’ response
On Thursday morning (16th July 2026), Green Party councillor Claire Critchison said her party support the ‘strong feelings’ of residents fed up of Southern Water’s ‘dreadful environmental record’ and failure to take ‘vital action’ needed to protect the Island’s beaches and water ways.
She said,
“Residents have been brushed away with a weak replacement motion to write some formal letters to express our disappointment.”
Southern Water’s response
Southern Water said it takes concerns about its performance seriously and claims it is investing millions of pounds to reduce storm overflows, improve infrastructure and enhance environmental performance across the Island.
A spokesperson,
“Our chief executive met with Isle of Wight councillors last month and set out a series of commitments focused on reducing spills, strengthening engagement, improving communication and increasing transparency. This will be helped by more than £67m of investment across the Island.
“Over the last three years the number of storm overflows on the Isle of Wight have gone down and we will shortly announce further measures to continue our progress and improve the resilience of our network.”
How councillors voted
How councillors voted on the no confidence motion:
For (15)
- Ed Blake (Conservative)
- Martin Bower (Reform UK)
- Becca Cameron (All for Islanders)
- Claire Critchison (Green Party)
- Paul Fuller (Island First Network)
- Andrew Garratt (Liberal Democrat)
- Jules Hayward (Island First Network)
- Chris Jarman (All for Islanders)
- Michael Lilley (Liberal Democrat)
- Karl Love (All for Islanders)
- Vix Lowthion (Green Party)
- Matthew Price (Conservative)
- Jock Rafferty (Labour)
- Mark Rochell (Liberal Democrat)
- Nick Stuart (Liberal Democrat)
Against (17)
- Gordon Adam (Reform UK)
- Tony Barry (Reform UK)
- Frank Brown (Reform UK)
- Debbie Conlin (Reform UK)
- Ros Freeman (Reform UK)
- Les Kirkby (Reform UK)
- David Llewellyn (Reform UK)
- Reuben Loake (Reform UK)
- Robert Newton (Reform UK)
- Bill Nigh (Reform UK)
- Owen Potter (Reform UK)
- Richard Quinn (Reform UK)
- Tony Raffe (Reform UK)
- Stephen Reynolds (Reform UK)
- Chris Way (Reform UK)
- James Whelan (Reform UK)
- Paul Williams (Reform UK)
Abstain (6)
- Jonathan Bacon (Independent)
- Ian Dore (Independent)
- Mark Jefferies (Island First Network)
- Julie Jones-Evans (Island First Network)
- Karen Lucioni (Island First Network)
- Lora Peacey-Wilcox (Island First Network)
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
