Simon Jupp MP meets with SWW to discuss multi-million-pound investment for East Devon

East Devon’s MP Simon Jupp met with South West Water’s Chief Executive, Susan Davy, in Sidmouth on July 26th to urge the company to move swiftly on their £30 million investment plans for water infrastructure in Sidmouth & Tipton St John.

Visiting their Wastewater Treatment Works (STW) site and storm overflow at The Ham in Sidmouth, Simon Jupp MP welcomed South West Water’s investment plans which were signed off for acceleration by the government earlier this year to reduce storm overflow spills and improve water quality in the area. Prior to the announcement of these plans, the East Devon MP had called for further investment from South West Water during a debate he led on the company’s performance in Parliament.  

As part of the investment package, sites in Sidmouth and Tipton St John are set to receive £30 million from South West Water for infrastructure upgrades. On top of this, the Axminster-Kilmington water treatment site is set to receive £7.3 million from South West Water. This work is to help reduce nutrient pollution to further protect East Devon’s waterways.

During the meeting, Simon Jupp MP also raised his concerns over the ongoing Ofwat investigation into South West Water’s wastewater treatment works and leakage reporting as well as the company’s overall performance. Whilst its performance has improved, South West Water’s Chief Executive acknowledged that there is more to do moving forward.

This followed a meeting between the East Devon MP and Chief Executive of Ofwat, David Black, on July 19th in Parliament to discuss the stronger powers granted to regulators by the government to hold water companies to account. Ofwat has enforcement powers to fine up to 10% of company turnover for breaches of its licence or other relevant requirements of the law.

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said; “We are so lucky to live in East Devon’s beautiful environment and I am passionate about protecting it. I am working hard to get South West Water to go further and faster in cleaning up our water.

"The multi-million-pound accelerated infrastructure investment in Sidmouth, Tipton St John and Axminster announced earlier this year was a positive step towards this, but I urged the Chief Executive to get works completed as swiftly as possible during my meeting in Sidmouth.

"In the meantime, I will continue to work with regulators - now armed with additional enforcement powers by this Conservative government - to protect our precious countryside, coastline and waterways.”