Teignbridge 'no confidence' in South West Water

Area is at 'crisis point'

Teignbridge is ‘at crisis point’ because of the strain being put on local water supplies, it has been claimed.

Members of Teignbridge Council’s executive committee say they have no confidence in South West Water (SWW) and have agreed to fire off angry letters to government ministers over the amount of sewage being pumped into local waters.

Cllr Andrew MacGregor (SD Alliance, Bishopsteignton) pointed out that there were 420 discharges into the Teign Estuary last year. He said it is a health risk for residents, visitors and businesses.

“Businesses across the district are at risk because of sewage discharges,” he claimed. “It’s due to a lack of investment and infrastructure.

“It is important that we as a council point out to Westminster that we are really concerned about our businesses, our tourism and our environment.

“It also puts development at risk. It makes it untenable to keep building and building and building when the infrastructure is already at capacity.

“We are at crisis point.”

And Cllr David Cox (Lib Dem, Teignmouth Central) added: “We have no confidence in them, based on what they have done to our rivers and seas. They have put shareholders ahead of investment in infrastructure.

“The regulators are underfunded, and we need national government to fund these bodies correctly so they can hold these bodies to account.”