Southern Water is ‘going ahead with what they’re going ahead with’ and it ‘doesn’t matter what we say’, a Reform UK Isle of Wight councillor has said in an update on a controversial Water Recycling Project.
Councillor Frank Baldry spoke out about the utility’s work at Sandown Town Council (STC) on Monday (22nd June 2026), telling members that Southern Water intended to press on with its proposed facility on land to the south of Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works, despite ‘three years of disruption’.
Awaiting a planning decision
Southern Water has applied for planning consent to build the project, which includes an outfall into the Eastern Yar and a pipeline to the Eastern Yar by Alverstone, and is waiting for a decision from the Isle of Wight Council.
A spokesperson for the company this afternoon (Wednesday, 24th June 2026) said the scheme would produce up to 8.5 million litres of water a day, reducing the Island’s reliance on the mainland for its water.
Heated talks at County Hall
Councillor Baldry also said the recent behind closed doors meeting at County Hall involved some ‘very heated discussions’ with Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden.
He said,
“We got in our bid about sewerage and the problems it has caused. Southern Water explained the problem we have, we have the second oldest sewerage system in the UK, hence the amount of breaks and leakages.
“Obviously, they’re trying to redress the problems they’ve got. They were nearly bankrupt about two, three years ago but they’re now back on track.”
The Sandown South representative said he had a chat with Mr Gosden and a Southern Water communications officer after the meeting.
An ageing sewerage system
Councillor Baldry said the latter lives on the Island and is ‘very aware’ of the ‘problems’. He continued,
“We talked about the Treatment Works which they intend to go ahead with because it’s needed.”
The councillor said he raised the ‘three years of disruption’ and objections from landowners and the public.
The councillor added that ‘all in all’, Southern Water are ‘going ahead with what they’re going ahead with’ and it ‘doesn’t matter what we say’.
Southern Water responds
Southern Water said,
“We’ve applied to Isle of Wight Council for planning permission to build the Isle of Wight Water Recycling Project, following a public consultation held last year.
“The project would produce up to 8.5 million litres of water a day – reducing the Island’s reliance on the mainland for its water, one-third of which currently comes from the rare and sensitive River Test chalk stream in Hampshire.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
