Andrew George MP statement on Isles of Scilly wastewater treatment 

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has made the following statement regarding South West Water’s plans for wastewater treatment on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly: 

“When South West Water agreed to take on responsibility for water and waste‑water services on the Isles of Scilly, it was well aware of just how fragile an environment it would be to manage its future services within. They were also aware of the challenges of maintaining a reliable service, including contributing to the restoration of clean bathing waters for a community almost entirely reliant upon tourism. In addition, they acknowledged the importance of protecting a marine environment which needs and deserves special care, as all partners seek to achieve strong nature restoration. 

“In these circumstances, the Environment Agency requirement for South West Water to provide the secondary treatment prior to the discharge of all of its wastewater, seems not only desirable, but reasonable. It is doing so not just for the bill paying residence of the islands, but for visitors who come to the islands from all around the United Kingdom and beyond. In that sense, the Isles of Scilly is a national asset, for which South West Water – which has enriched its senior executives and shareholders for many decades – has the capacity to invest and produce a wastewater solution of this standard. 

“I have therefore communicated to the Environment Agency and South West Water my firm view that the Environment Agency should stand its ground, and that South West Water should revise its position and agree to secondary treatment.”