The 'do not swim' notice has been lifted, but South West Water apologise as repairs continue
The Local MP (pictured) is now seeking a meeting with the boss of the water firm
Last updated 20th Aug 2024
South West Water has again apologised for the length of time it is taking to fix a pipe in Exmouth - even after a 'do not swim' notice was lifted from the beach.
Maer Lane in Exmouth remains closed as the firm continue working to repair a pipe there - after a temporary fix was made.
A spokesperson said: "We are sorry this is taking time and fully understand the disruption this is causing, and we want to thank residents and visitors for their patience.
"We will continue to work hard to fix the issue as quickly and as safely as possible. To ensure the safety of our teams and road users, Maer Lane remains closed."
They added: "Our teams are working around the clock to fix the pipe at Maer Lane. We have fixed the initial problem and are now undertaking work on an additional section of the pipe.
"We have tankers in place to help while our work continues and to respond to changing weather conditions."
It comes as Exmouth MP David Reed is to meet South West Water’s boss after a sewage spill stopped people going in the sea for five days.
Mr Reed has requested a meeting with the firm’s chief executive, Susan Davy, in a bid to encourage it to bring forward planned infrastructure spending.
According to its business plan, the company expects to spend £2.8 billion from 2025 to 2030 on “water quality and resilience, with a pledge to fix storm overflows at beaches and eradicate pollutions”.
But Mr Reed, elected to the new Exmouth and Exeter East constituency last month, wants it to bring some of this forward.
“This is not a new issue. It’s something that has been going on for some time and it’s not good enough,” he said.
“I’ve been an MP just over a month and there has already been two sewage spills in the town, the latest of which led to the beach being closed during the vital tourist season.
“There’s infrastructure funding there and I want to see if this can be brought forward.”
Mr Reed acknowledged that there would be “no overnight fixes” but hoped he could make progress on the issue, something he campaigned on during his year-long bid to become an MP.
He added that he wanted to act as a “bridge” between disparate groups in Exmouth that are upset with the water company, and bring them together with the firm in a bid to improve relations.
Business owners have contacted Mr Reed about the impact the spills have had, with those that rely on the water and the beach particularly hard hit.
The issue near the Maer Lane treatment plant last Wednesday prompted East Devon District Council leader Paul Arnott (Liberal Democrat, Coly Valley) to label the incident a “historic new low” for the water and sewage firm.
“Despite multiple reassurances from South West Water that they have Exmouth under control, they simply do not,” Mr Arnott said. This incident not only impacted our residents but also the tens of thousands of tourists that visit Exmouth.
“Our officers and the Environment Agency attended the site as soon as the spill was reported and took direct action to advise residents and visitors not to bathe in the water.
“I thank them for their rapid response.”
He added that the beach had been ‘red flagged’ meaning it was deemed unsafe to use.
The issue was caused by problems at Maer Road pumping station.
South West Water said it had been “working around the clock in Exmouth” to repair the burst pipe from Maer Road pumping station at Maer Lane.
“We are pleased to say that we have now completed the temporary fix, and the pipe is up and running, and we can now begin planning the permanent repair,” a spokesperson said.
“However, tankers will remain on site as a precaution. We would like to thank residents and visitors for their patience, and we are sorry for the disruption caused throughout this event.”
It added that it continued to liaise with the Environment Agency so that it could “take the appropriate steps to protect the environment and public health”.