The Isle of Wight Greens have hit out at Full Council after councillors rejected a public petition calling for a vote of no confidence in Southern Water.
More than 3,000 people signed the petition, enough to qualify it for debate at County Hall.
It fell by two votes. Reform councillors put 17 votes against the motion, with 15 other councillors in favour.
Greens say residents were brushed away
Councillor Claire Critchison said,
“As Greens we support the strong feelings of residents who are fed up of Southern Water’s dreadful environmental record and their failure to take vital action needed to protect our beaches and waterways.
“The strong feelings of No Confidence are very real and should have been recognised by all Isle of Wight Councillors in this public way. Instead, residents have been brushed away with a weak replacement motion to write some formal letters to express our disappointment.”
She added,
“Councillors had a rare chance to turn the heat on Southern Water, but instead this response is tepid and lukewarm. We desperately need Southern Water to listen to residents and earn our confidence back.”
What councillors backed instead
Rather than the no confidence vote, the council agreed a replacement motion committing it to write formally to the regulators.
The council has asked Ofwat and Defra to review Southern Water’s performance.
