OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Paddy Lightfoot, Sandown. Ed
After this summer, it’s clear that water security is becoming a major concern for all of us.
The proposed wastewater recycling plant in Sandown raises two serious issues: three years of major disruption and potential ecological damage locally, and the long-term reality of recycled wastewater entering the Island’s drinking water supply, particularly at higher concentrations during droughts.
Gaps in the planning process
Most people agree that action is needed to improve our water resilience. The problem is that Southern Water is asking us to accept this scheme as the best solution, in the best location, without providing many of the key facts needed to justify that claim.
The regulatory framework needed to guarantee safe operation and water quality has not even been finalised. Trust in Southern Water remains low.
Time to act
Despite the scale of the decision, only around 50 residents, mostly from Sandown, have submitted objections.
The deadline to comment on the planning application (25/01619/FUL) is 21st August 2026. If you have concerns, please consider submitting an objection to the Isle of Wight Council and contacting your ward councillor, especially if they sit on the planning committee.
If this scheme is approved, the Island will live with the consequences, and the costs, for decades. There is still time to make your voice heard.
