[Adapted from a write-up by Cllr Michael Lilley.]

Together with most Isle of Wight councillors of all parties, I voted at the Full Council meeting on 15 May 2024 for all sewage discharges into the sea and watercourses to end by 2030.

Cllr Michael Lilley had put the original motion to full council in January 2024 after instigating a petition for IW Council to take action in December 2023 after horrific flooding in Ryde and across the Isle of Wight which included sewage discharges on our beaches and into the sea.

Time ran out on the night and Michael withdrew the motion so there could be more work on it. He worked closely with my Lib Dem colleague, Cllr Sarah Redrup (Wootton Bridge) and Chani Courtney of Surfers Against Sewage. They engaged cross-party with Conservatives, Greens, Labour and Independents to make sure the motion would have support on the night. Sarah presented the motion eloquently.

The Isle of Wight Council resolved to:

• Recognise this Council’s obligation to protect its rivers and seas in line with its local planning policy, and the National Planning Policy Framework.
• Ensure that the new Island plan and SuDS [Sustainable Drainage Systems] supplementary planning document fully considers the cumulative impact of surface water runoff and sewage discharge.
• To continue managing stormwater at every opportunity by incorporating or retrofitting SuDS within its own capital programme.
• Help to raise awareness by supporting community groups wishing to conduct water quality testing in their local area.
• To take a positive and proactive lead on this issue and work with stakeholders to ensure that sewage releases into Island watercourses and the sea surrounding the Isle of Wight are zero by 2030.

Further information:

Surfers Against Sewage manifesto End Sewage Manifesto

Lib Dem Manifesto on Stopping Sewage Stop Sewage Dumping