Southern Water plans to install a combined sewage overflow pipe (CSO) at Silver Sands Beach in Bembridge, prompting strong opposition from local residents, campaigners, and elected representatives.
Residents opposed to the pipe have formed a campaign group called No Poo at the Point, and their petition has gathered more than 1,460 signatures.
What is a CSO?
A CSO carries both rainwater and raw sewage, discharging the mixture directly into the sea or rivers. Regulations permit their use only during extreme weather events, though campaigners say evidence from nearby monitoring points suggests they operate far more frequently.
Rachel Young, a local resident, pointed to discharge data for the St Helens Nodes Point CSO, around 400 metres from the proposed Bembridge pipe, which recorded 313 sewage release alerts in 2025 and 385 alerts so far in 2026.
A new pipe or an extension?
Southern Water describes the installation as an extension of an existing pipe rather than a new CSO.
Local residents dispute this, with David Hunt saying,
“I have lived in Bembridge for over twenty years and have never known this pipe to be operational.”
Hunt added,
“The water companies are supposed to be improving their record on sewage discharges, but this illustrates that it is only getting worse.”
Environmental concerns
The Bembridge coastline holds Marine Conservation Zone status, recognising the rare species and habitats found there, including seagrass meadows which provide nursery grounds for fish, store carbon, and act as natural water purifiers and sea defences.
Andrew Holman from Harbour Farm Nature Group said,
“It seems inconceivable that Southern Water are planning to install what is, in effect, a new sewage outfall straight onto one of the finest holiday beaches on the Isle of Wight.”
He continued,
“Offshore are rare seagrass meadows that play such an important part in our ecology – they are home to many species including seahorses – yet they are now going to be further endangered by this proposal.”
Legal challenge
Local solicitor and former Isle of Wight councillor Warren Drew wrote to Southern Water arguing the installation is unlawful, citing an inadequate Environmental Impact Assessment and a failure to give reasonable consideration to alternative measures.
His letter caused a delay to work originally scheduled for May, though Southern Water now plans to begin on 8th June.
Objections have gone to Southern Water, the Environment Agency, the Marine Management Organisation, and Isle of Wight Council from the campaign group Plastic Free Bembridge.
Community response
Bembridge Parish Council voted to support the objection and agreed to lodge a formal complaint about the lack of consultation with residents.
Residents opposed to the pipe formed a campaign group called No Poo at the Point, and a petition gathered more than 1,460 signatures.
Isle of Wight councillor Mark Rochell confirmed he is in discussion with Lawrence Gosden, chief executive of Southern Water, to arrange a meeting for all Island councillors and potentially a public meeting on the issues.
MP Joe Robertson said,
“I share concerns regarding the continuing issue of sewage discharges into our waters.
“We should be taking decisive action to protect them, both now, and for future generations.”
A broken system
Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, placed the Bembridge dispute in a wider national context.
He said,
“People are rightly furious. Southern Water wants communities to accept more sewage pollution on their beaches, whilst almost doubling the pay package of the CEO.”
Giles continued,
“That came in the same year Surfers Against Sewage received 358 sickness reports linked to Southern Water sewage discharges, while customers face bill rises of up to 44% by 2030.”
He added,
“This is a broken system that continues to reward pollution instead of fixing it. The privatised water model is failing. That’s why the Government’s Clean Water Bill must deliver transformational reform.”
Southern Water’s position
Southern Water says the pipe is necessary to prevent flooding of local homes during extreme weather events.
The company has stated that improvements to local infrastructure are planned for 2028, though residents question why those improvements cannot begin now, avoiding both beach discharges and home flooding.
Isle of Wight councillor Chris Jarman said,
“This is a continuing problem around the Island, which has a fragile economy heavily dependent on tourism, and more needs to be done by the water companies to reassure people and increase confidence.”
OnTheWight has put questions to Southern Water and will update this article when a response is received.
