Six Cornish Towns Join Campaign Against South West Water

Thousands will hit the water across Cornwall today, but the bigger blow to South West Water came from inside the council chamber.

Six of Cornwall’s towns have now declared no confidence in the privatised utility, joining a grassroots campaign demanding the firm be stripped of its licence and brought back into public ownership.

The Six Town Councils

Camborne, Falmouth, St Austell, Bude-Stratton, Helston and Redruth Town Councils have all passed “No Confidence” motions in South West Water and signed the Dowr Glan (Clean Water) letter.

They join eight other Cornish parishes who have already added their names, formally petitioning the Government to use the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 to place South West Water into special administration and transition its assets into a publicly-owned service.

Why Now

The motions follow a string of environmental failures across the county.

In Bude, anger peaked after a sewage dump at Widemouth Bay in February, when brown runoff was filmed flooding the beach during the half-term holidays. In Redruth and Camborne, residents have voiced frustration over rising bills and the frequent use of storm overflows to spill sewage into the catchment area. Inland parishes have flagged problems with septic tank waste disposal and overflows sending sewage through village streets.

“An Eviction Notice”

Mael Garrec, Dowr Glan campaign coordinator and Mebyon Kernow Town Councillor for Penryn, said:

“Enough is enough; this isn’t just about environmental protest any more. It’s about a total collapse of public trust. Camborne, Falmouth, St Austell, Bude, Helston and Redruth are the latest to say that Cornwall is calling time on South West Water and their massive profits. This is an eviction notice. We are reclaiming our water as a public service.”

Dean Evans, the Green Party Councillor who brought the motion in Falmouth, said:

“The sewage crisis is not just an environmental issue – it’s a direct threat to Cornwall’s ‘blue economy’ and public health. In 2025, South West Water was responsible for 46,191 hours of sewage spills, including illegal discharges during dry weather. And while our residents face record bills, Pennon Group, which owns South West Water, continues to pay out millions of pounds to shareholders. Water is a natural monopoly that should never have been privatised, and it’s beyond time for a complete reset.”

What Happens Next

Organisers say the campaign is approaching a tipping point as more Cornish town and parish councils sign on. They plan to present the collective mandate of Cornish councils to DEFRA, Ofwat, and local MPs later this summer.

Mael added: “We know that many residents are asking their councillors to join the movement, which they can do by visiting www.dowrglan.org. Find out how to sign the letter and download our community mobilisation kit. The more who do so, the more powerful our voices for change will be.”

Members of Dowr Glan will join Surfers Against Sewage ‘paddle-out’ protests at Gyllingvase Beach in Falmouth and Seaton beach today, Saturday 16th May, from 11am.

📷Credit Surfers Against Sewage-paddle out protests on Saturday 16th May 11am