Water and Sewage

Water Network Resilience Plan

I've worked with water experts to produce and cost a water resilience plan to upgrade and replace outdated infrastructure at the Pembury Water Treatment Works - the cause of recent water outages in Tunbridge Wells, Pembury and our villages. I'm taking this plan to South East Water, their investors and the regulators.

Business Compensation

I'm demanding that South East Water compensate local businesses well beyond what is statutorily required. My office has worked with local businesses to compile together losses as a result of the December 2025 water outage, which total at least £18.5 million.

Accountability

I'm pushing the Government to get a grip of recent water crises by putting South East Water into a Special Administrative Regime, that will allow financial and organisational restructuring of South East Water. I invited the Secretary of State to Tunbridge Wells where she announced that OFWAT will be investigation whether SE Water breached their licence to operate. I'm also working with Parliament's Environment Select Committee and all the relevant regulators to make sure that South East Water is held fully to account for the recent outages.

Sewage

I forced Southern Water to take remedial action to stop sewage from entering the River Grom. Southern Water are now upgrading its network in South Tunbridge Wells to reduce surface water from entering the system which will reduce sewage spills. The water company has also increased capacity at Tunbridge Wells South Wastewater Treatment Works by 23% to accommodate housing growth.