This week in the Commons, Shadow DEFRA Minister Dr Neil Hudson pressed the Government on its response to the lack of water supply in areas of the South East, amidst devastating closures of schools and businesses, GP and hospital appointments being moved online, and threats to farmers’ and horse owners’ livestock from a lack of water for them.
Across areas of Sussex and Kent, a lack of a fully functioning water supply has affected over 30,000 properties, forced businesses and schools to close, and affected access to appointments for GPs and hospitals, forcing some of these to be done online. As a veterinary surgeon, Dr Hudson also took the opportunity to raise concerns that a lack of water supply has left farmers and horse owners concerned about a lack of water for their livestock.
These issues were only heightened by poor communication from South East Water, including informing people without water that bottled water collection points were available, only for those who travelled there to find out no water was available there.
Even more shockingly, this is the second major incident of its kind in the South East in the last few weeks.
Speaking up for those affected, Dr Hudson called on the Government to give answers on when those affected can expect supply to be restored, and what is being done to support those affected, especially those in more isolated areas who may be unable to travel as easily, and to ensure local healthcare, education and businesses can reopened.
Looking to the long-term, Dr Hudson also asked the Minister to confirm what reforms to the sector they would implement from last year’s Cunliffe Review, a wholesale review of the water industry that made recommendations on where reforms could be made to the sector, which also focused on water supply.
Following that Urgent Question, Dr Hudson commented:
“Communities across Sussex and Kent have seen terrible impacts on their lives from the lack of water supply they have faced twice in just a matter of weeks. Residents’ distress and frustration are fully justified, and rightly only heightens the need for South East Water to sort this situation out as a matter of urgency.
Folk affected with the closure of their children’s schools, business owners forced to close, and farmers and horse owners worried about water for their livestock need answers and accountability from South East Water, not just here and now but for the future.
The Government must act to provide the clarity desperately needed for communities, and use its upcoming reforms to ensure that lessons from the Cunliffe Review are implemented, so this situation does not occur again.”
