After reports of sewage spills around Thanet following heavy rain, Polly has contacted Southern Water and demanded answers. In a statement she said:
“Every time there is a sewage spill like this it threatens our health and our local economy. People choose to live in and visit Thanet for the sea, and Southern Water’s job is to ensure that is safe for all of us.
“For too long, Southern’s bosses have put profits ahead of our environment, while residents and visitors have been left to deal with polluted beaches and waterways. The public deserve to know how long it will take before these sewage spills are a thing of the past. I have contacted them urgently, demanding answers.
The government’s Water Act banned bonuses for failing water bosses – including Southern Water – and requires water companies to deliver clear plans to clean up their act, with tougher penalties for failure. Holding this failing water company to account and giving communities more of a voice in how our public services are delivered will always be my priority as an MP, and I won’t rest until Southern Water are held accountable and start delivering in the public interest.”