Saturday lunchtime saw around one hundred Isle of Wight residents head to Ryde beach for the Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out Protest.
The event, organised by the Island’s SAS rep, Chani, featured speeches from local politicians as well as campaigners.
There were paddleboarders and swimmers of all ages attending the event, which saw many head into the water once the speeches had been completed.
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For those who were unable to attend, Chani shares her closing speech below. Our thanks to Dave Rutherford for sharing some of his photos too.
Chani told the gathering,
“Our Island has 12 of the 83 worst beaches in the country for total duration of combined sewage overflows in 2022. Southern Water got a 1 star environment rating from the Environment Agency.
“Their CEO Lawrence Gosden got £966,800 in CEO bonuses last financial year. DEFRA target for 2025 to 2030 is to reduce overflows from 20 spills per CSO to 15 per year. Southern Water currently has a 17.8 average so this really isn’t going to create the challenge needed.
“SAS top three things to ask of you today are:
- Sign our Dirty Money Petition. – This has put on pressure and three water bosses have given up their bonus and Southern Water CEO is going give up his for 2023.
- Download our SSRS app. It will help you choose when it is safe to use the water, but also options for other actions you can take including auto generated emails to Water company CEO’s and MP’s and reporting pollution.
- If possible donate to or become a member of SAS”
She went on to add,
“Locally we have the Pathfinder Project from Southern Water. Their Island team got £12 million from the early release of the next cycle money from OFWAT’S 1.6bn a couple of months ago.
“They are focused on optimising their assets, identifying miss connections and sustainable urban drainage at business and community buildings, homes and roads. There are also plans for two wetlands to be created.
“Locally I think they are working to their best ability within the larger restrictions and are passionate, in their words to ‘reduce’ sewage pollution and holding them to account can only happen if we work collaboratively.
“If you get offered an intervention from them please do consider it.
“The pressure currently building on the water industry is working with news this week of an apology and £10bn over the next decade (SAS) welcomed ‘the long overdue apology’ but said the investment should not be paid for through higher bills.”
Izzy Ross, campaigns manager at SAS, says,
“The UK public has already paid for environmental protection from sewage – but we’re yet to see it. And whilst the water industry rakes it in, this investment pledged by Water UK must come out of water company profits, not from the bill payer.”
What you can do
Chani went on to make a plea to those attending,
“So now my emotional plea, because enough is enough we should not wait ten years to see if the water companies are successful. SW Pathfinder are focusing on Gurnard and then move to another area likely Fishbourne and Binstead. Why should we wait for our turn in their plan?
“Governance takes time we do not have and our local MP focus on water butts is too narrow. Why should we not be a majority stakeholder in our own Island’s future water quality?
“I urge you to take any action within the space you have in your life. SAS actions first please, but then why not in your community, faith or sports group raise the profile of the issue of sewage in our waters. Use data and help our Island’s sites be interrogated, find ways to get water quality and ecological surveys done.
“Set up designations for bathing water and perhaps shellfish. Speak to your elected representative, councillors at all levels, raise objections to planning that does not have sustainable drainage.
“Keep the media focused on this issue, by sharing your stories with journalists. Have a think about the physical space you have a say in, your home or community building and see if there is an action you can achieve now rather than waiting for Southern Water to tell you too.
“This is our Island and it’s time we are not just led by others but become the leaders ourselves. Let’s show how amazing our Island and community are and fight for our fantastic seas and rivers.”
Image: © Dave Rutherford Photography
