Newspaper Column – The Cornishman – 22/09/25

• I met South West Water CEO, Susan Davy, last week to review their investment plans and the numerous and much reported failings to effectively prevent the growing number of pollution incidents around our coast, even on ‘dry days’. With her colleagues I was shown around the sewage treatment works at St Erth. If they’d invested more in the infrastructure and less in rewarding themselves and shareholders we wouldn’t be in this position. They’re needless to say defensive of their record and promise to deal with the many issues I raised.  

The last government created a lax environment in which they could get away with this. The new government has started to act, strengthen the regulatory environment and put pressure on water companies to deliver a decent service. Much more to do. I’m holding them to account. 

 

• It was a privilege to have a chance to review the progress of the Cornwall-based Seal Research Trust (SRT) this week, to meet leader, Sue Sayer, and to be updated on the Trust’s conservation work, protecting grey seals and the natural environment. The Trust monitors seal health from many locations around the coast. I also met National Trust warden, Steve Sudworth and viewed the remarkable work they are doing at Godrevy Farm, supporting biodiversity recovery while maintaining food production.  

The SRT is a national leader in seal research and conservation, and has been supporting new projects groups in other coastal locations around the UK. 

With fellow Cornish MPs I’ll seek the backing of the new DEFRA Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds MP, to enhance protections for seals under the Wildlife protection legislation. Seals face many threats from disturbance, entanglement in fishing gear (witnessed by me while on my visit), and climate-related changes. Keep up the great work Sue and all at the SRT. 

 

• I am calling on health managers to suspend any currently planned inpatient hospital bed closures until those beds are no longer required, if their plans for earlier patient discharged to home prove successful. The Cornwall Partnership Trust has apparently indicated an intention to close inpatient beds at community hospitals (Falmouth mentioned this week) because it believes patient outcomes are worse if they remain in hospital longer than is necessary. There are of course budgetary reasons as well.  

Health managers must take care not to put the cart before the horse. This has happened before; closing inpatient beds before the systems to safely manage the earlier discharge of patients from a hospital are properly in place.  

I’m not of course opposed in principle to change, nor against seeking budget efficiencies, but it would be irresponsible to risk overwhelming primary and community services before they are ready. We have ambulances queueing outside the emergency department at Treliske and a continuation of unacceptable ‘corridor care’ because beds were closed before the system to manage the consequences were put in place.