A keen sea swimmer has delivered a petition containing more than 49,000 signatures to Downing Street to protest against sewage being discharged into sea water.

Jo Bateman hand-delivered the petition to 10 Downing Street

Chloe Parkman www.bbc.co.uk 

Jo Bateman, 62, from Exmouth, has called for action against water companies over the pollution which she said stopped swimmers from entering the sea.

Ms Bateman hand-delivered the petition, external calling for urgent change to the Prime Minister’s home on Tuesday.

South West Water (SWW) said it was “serious” about tackling sewage spills and was investing about £38m in the Exmouth area up to 2030.

‘Right to swim’

Ms Bateman previously told the BBC swimming helped her physical and mental health.

The swimmer, who has taken legal action against SWW, added she had been unable to swim on many occasions due to the frequent sewage spills on the beach.

It comes after traders in Exmouth said spillages in August and September had a significant impact on business and had led them to consider taking legal action against SWW.

Ms Bateman said she wanted to hold all water companies to account and make sure waterways are improved.

“It is about giving us the right to swim in clean water which at the moment is very often taken away from us,” she said.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the UK’s waterways were in an “unacceptable state” after years of neglect.

Mr Reed added: “Under this government, water executives will no longer line their own pockets whilst pumping out this filth.

“If they refuse to comply, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.”

Trade association Water UK said “no sewage spill is ever acceptable”.

He said companies had proposed investing £105bn “to ensure the security of water supplies in the future and end sewage entering rivers and seas”.

SWW said it was looking to upgrade its pumping stations and treatment works to reduce the number of spills.

A spokesperson said: “We are serious about tackling storm overflows but change of this scale takes time, ambition and increased investment.”

Both Richard Foord, MP Honiton & Sidmouth, and David Reed, MP Exmouth & Exeter East, voted for the opposition motion to continue the payment and against the government proposed cut whilst Steve Race, MP Exeter, voted the other way.

The government won by 348 votes to 228. 

Honiton and Sidmouth MP votes against winter fuel payment cut

Adam Manning www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, Richard Foord, opposed the Government’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment. 

MP’s voted on the new bill in the House of Commons last night (Monday September 9). The Liberal Democrat member of parliament voted against Labour’s bill.

A poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats revealed the effects of the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment this winter. The poll of pensioners showed that three in four (75%) expect to be affected by the Government’s cut to winter fuel payments.  

The figures claim more than half (55%) of UK pensioners polled said they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while four in ten will look to cut back on other ‘essentials’. One in five (19%) pensioners are planning to eat less this winter due to the cut.  

It also shows an estimated 25,733 pensioners in Honiton & Sidmouth are at risk of losing the payment of up to £300, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months. 

Research from the charity Age UK shows the proposed cut to the Winter Fuel Payment will mean two million will find paying their energy bills a real stretch and will be seriously hit by this cut. 

Liberal Democrat Richard Foord MP for Honiton & Sidmouth said after the vote: “I consider it my duty on behalf of people who I represent to vote the Government’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment. 

“We cannot stand by and allow millions of older people to endure another harsh winter. 

“Since these plans have been announced I have been inundated with local people expressing their concern at this decision, so it is right that to take this opportunity to stand up for them in Parliament. 

 “While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”