At a Glance
- Fourth Southend Water Quality Summit held at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club
- Anglian Water attended with senior management to answer public concerns
- Waterwatch UK to take over future summit management from MPs
- Environmental testing delays raise frustration over council inaction
- E.coli results under review – Southend’s Blue Flags may remain safe
Bayo Alaba M.P (Southend East & Rochford) hosted the fourth water quality summit at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club, on Friday 17th October.
Both Bayo and David Burton-Sampson M.P (Southend West & Leigh) have continued to organise the water quality summits they inherited from Anna Firth following the last general election. The water summits arose following the sewage well collapse at Stock Rd in October 2021, with the express purpose of strengthening Anglian Water’s accountability to the residents of Southend.
The good news is that Anglian Water are engaged in the process and sent fourteen members of staff, along with senior management to answer questions and hear concerns. Present were representatives from Southend City Council, Environment Agency, OFWAT, resident’s groups, Southend Against Sewage and Waterwatch UK.
Future Summits Handed Over
Both Bayo and David reaffirmed their commitment to future water quality summits. They handed over future management of water summits to Waterwatch UK, who will organise and chair future summits. Waterwatch UK will elect a board of directors and a chairperson in November to oversee the next planned summit sometime in February 2026.
Anglian Water began their presentation with WINEP or the Water Industry National Environment Programme and outlined various local projects in Southend aimed at protecting the environment through capturing rainwater, reducing wastewater, wet wipes and maintaining free flowing drains. Infrastructure at The San Remo Parade, Thorpe Hall Avenue and Southchurch Park Lake were discussed, but little has been resolved.
The E.A also gave a slide show presentation on E.coli testing along Southend’s beaches. The very high results at several beaches in May look like they might be disregarded by the E.A as it had rained earlier before the tests were carried out. This is good news as the Blue Flags at Shoebury Common and Three Shells might now be safe.
The E.A provided a telephone number for the removal of bitumen tar washing up on beaches — 01732 600 888. The company will arrange for the bitumen to be collected and disposed of properly.
Delays in Water Testing
All year-round testing has been put back again due to health and safety concerns. Anglian Water have the capacity to test water samples and offered to do so for Southend City Council. Southend City Council have not trained staff to take water samples, so none can be taken. You would have thought one year on, this could have been resolved. It’s a small issue, but if this can’t be organised, what of the larger more complex problems?
If the water summits are to be productive for Southend, then the new chair must use the time between summits to ensure both Anglian Water and Southend City Council are working towards achieving agreed outcomes and finding solutions. The chair must keep in regular contact with both, and push for desired outcomes.
By Shah & Alex Haider
On behalf of Southend Against Sewage
southendagainstsewage.org