Ben Maguire renews calls on South West Water over 18 charges

Eighteen offences. Six years. And a guilty plea that has landed just days after a record fine.

South West Water has pleaded guilty to 18 pollution-related offences across Devon and Cornwall, prompting North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire to renew his calls for tougher action against the company.

The charges, brought by the Environment Agency, relate to illegal sewage discharges and failures to take remedial action after incidents at sites including Bodmin and Harlyn, both in Ben’s North Cornwall constituency. The offences took place between 2015 and 2021.

A guilty plea days after a record fine

The admissions come shortly after South West Water was handed a record £1.853 million fine following the Cryptosporidium parasite outbreak in Brixham. Hundreds of people were left ill after contaminated drinking water was supplied to homes and businesses.

Ben, a Liberal Democrat, has been one of the leading voices holding the company to account. He has previously helped force the resignation of chief executive Susan Davy and has repeatedly challenged South West Water over sewage dumping across North Cornwall.

He has also warned that any financial penalties imposed on the company must not become a reason to delay or cut the infrastructure upgrades needed to tackle sewage pollution.

What the MP said

Commenting on the latest admissions, Ben said:

“These admissions are yet more evidence of a company that has repeatedly failed Cornwall’s communities and environment. Another admission of pollution offences across Devon and Cornwall, just days after receiving a record £1.8 million fine.

My constituents are fed up with the endless cycle of pollution, apologies, and excuses. Time and again, South West Water has failed to meet the standards that local people rightly expect.

Infrastructure upgrades our communities need should have happened years ago. North Cornwall’s rivers, beaches and seas are among our greatest natural assets. Residents, businesses and visitors deserve clean water and South West Water must now demonstrate that it is willing to invest, improve and finally end this recurring pattern of failure.

We saw South West Water’s Chief Executive Susan Davy resign after significant pressure and its vital now their new leader tackles this scandal and invests in North Cornwall’s sewage infrastructure.”