Protests on Devon's beaches against state of UK waterways
The demonstrations are amongst more than 30 planned nationwide
Last updated 18th May 2024
Thousands of protesters will take to coasts and rivers across the UK today to protest against the state of the nation’s waterways.
The protests have been coordinated by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), who are calling for an end to the sewage discharges plaguing the UK’s rivers and seas, as sewage overflows continue to have a devastating impact on ecological and human health.
Over 30 protests are set to take place at local beaches and rivers, including at Plymouth, Exmouth and Teignmouth later on.
Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, said:
“This year offers an opportunity to turn our collective anger into action and end the sewage scandal, with panicked politicians in listening mode, desperate to ride the waves of popular sentiment.
"A general election is imminent, and the public are out on the beachfronts and riverbanks making it clear that the issue of sewage pollution is at the top of the agenda. Ahead of the election, all parties need to show people genuine and quantifiable commitments to eliminate sewage pollution, or suffer the consequences.”
In 2023, there were 584,001 recorded discharges across England, Scotland and Wales - a 51% increase on the previous year - with sewage released into waterways for a total of 12,966,322 hours.
Water companies have proposed plans for £11 billion in investment for reducing sewage discharges for this period, with customer bills increasing in tandem.