We always welcome a Letter to the Editor to share with readers. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch. This letter from Christopher Dodd, from Newport. Ed
At the last Newport Parish Council meeting, the Newport Harbour Action Group spokesman attempted to seek support from this Council to improve the sewer and slum that the river and harbour at Newport has become.
Only a tiny part of our evidence about foul surface water, raw sewage from boats and the insanitary slum living conditions of some houseboat dwellers, some paid for by housing benefit, was stated.
Rejected by chair
The Council Chair, closely followed by her partner Cllr Lumley, prevented any further exchange and having asked whether or not the Parish Council would consider this scandal, Cllr Lumley took it upon himself to say NO!
Of course it is much easier to spend time discussing buying a hedge trimmer or repairing a water fountain.
Scared of the IW council?
Not a single word was spoken by any other Parish Councillor all of whom are our representatives. They are in the front line of duty to look into these allegations, act as our watchdog for the good governance of this town’s harbour and press the IW Council accordingly. The obvious conclusion, from Cllr Lumley’s reaction, is that this Parish Council is simply scared of the IW Council.
The Harbour Group challenges the Parish Council to put the condition of this harbour on their agenda, take evidence and form some policy towards it. Maybe new Cllrs and a new Chair after the coming elections will make some difference.
Fouled surface water
As an aside – the water has gone grey again in the harbour. If Newport residents look at your water bills you will see you pay for ‘Surface Water and Highway Drainage’.
This is to pay SWS to collect rain water from our buildings running off pavements and roads, fouled by human refuse, bird droppings, dog mess and all the muck from cars and commercial traffic; transporting it via the sewers to treatment plants; and putting it back into the environment after treatment.
We have it in writing from our ex Chief Executive that – quote “most of this (filthy fouled – my words) surface water in Newport goes straight into the river”!
Can we all have shares in SWS?
Image: © Used with permission of iowsara
