Below is the text of the letter plus an image. 

In Owl’s opinion it should be the local MP who takes the lead in getting Ministers to visit on serious matters of this sort.

It is a sign of the significance of the political upheaval we have just witnessed, accompanied by a collapse in Tory morale, that David Reed MP has not inherited a functioning constituency office. This is what he has been having to tell his constituents:

“Thank you for your email regarding storm overflows.

Firstly, please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in my reply. Since the election I have been busy setting up my office, hiring staff and prioritising urgent casework.

Nevertheless his job is now to press home the invitation.

This invitation and the Leigh Day review of possible legal action may not be all that is going on. Three days ago Owl spotted this cryptic comment made by Paul Arnott, Leader EDDC, on the ESCAPE facebook page:

“We have an event announcement to make soon which will go to the heart of it all.”

Text of Exmouth Town Council letter

The Rt Hon. Steve Reed O.B.E., M.P Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Defra, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street,London SW1 P 4DF

Cc David Reed, Member of Parliament for Exmouth & Exeter East

A copy has also been emailed to Defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk

Dear Secretary of State,

Exmouth, as I’m sure you are aware is a seaside resort 10 miles south of Exeter.

At the height of the summer season (14th August) a rising main leading to the sewage treatment works (on the edge of Town) failed. This resulted in highly concentrated raw sewage being discharged on to the Highway and agricultural land adjacent to a water course leading ultimately into the bathing waters. Red flags to effectively ban swimming were flown.

National media swarmed into Exmouth to cover the story highlighting the deserted beach, a dearth of visitors to the town and angry residents, businesses and trippers.

The reputational damage to Exmouth as a seaside resort, although still being quantified, is considered immense.

South West Water (SWW) mobilised a significant number of engineering teams and equipment to the area, but the mains failure meant hundreds of sewage tanker journeys travelling through town and they were also highly visible from the seafront.

SWW has recently rectified the immediate fault, and they are publicly giving assurances to our community that they are “doing everything we can, as quickly and thoroughly as possible, to ensure your local wastewater network is fit for the future”. Unfortunately, there appears to be little public trust in their promises.

We have tried to engage with SWW, but we have been disappointed with their slow responses and when they do respond frustrated with the lack of up to date information being provided.

The Town Council are therefore writing to invite you to visit Exmouth, in order that you might gain an understanding of the impact on the Town, its residents and businesses, associated with these events. We would see this as the first step in re-building civic pride and to show potential visitors that we are taking serious steps to rectify matters.

On 10th September the Government announced plans to attract investment into the water sector to rebuild broken water infrastructure and clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas.

We would also extend our invitation for you to take this opportunity to outline the Government’s plan for dealing with water companies who fail to comply with the Environment Act, what enforcement steps are being implemented and what initiatives are being encouraged to meet clean water targets.

We hope you see this invitation in a positive light and feel you can use Exmouth as a ‘pilot scheme’ to realise Government intentions in promoting water companies working together with communities to implement immediate courses of action to provide permanent solutions to existing problems.

If you would like further information or to speak with me please feel free to call on 01395 276167.

We look forward to your response.

Yours Sincerely

Chetna Jones

Deputy Town Clerk On behalf of Exmouth Town Council