Havant Borough Council members unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in Southern Water at a Full Council meeting last week – the motion was proposed by Councillor Jonathan Hulls on 20 August 2026.

A briefing note for Councillors published on 29 September ahead of the evening meeting on October 7 2026 summarised the concerns, saying that for years Southern Water had “consistently failed to meet acceptable standards in wastewater management and environmental

protection” across the borough.

Other issues raised in the note included:

• Repeated discharges of untreated sewage into Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, and off Hayling Island continue to damage international environmental designations, jeopardise public health, and harm our local tourism and marine economies. Despite frequent assurances, Southern Water’s infrastructure remains inadequate, relying routinely on storm overflows as operational practice rather than exceptional emergency measures.
• Public confidence has been further eroded by proposed major infrastructure schemes, including the controversial water recycling plans for Havant Thicket Reservoir, where widespread public concern remains regarding consultation, environmental impact, and water safety.

Council members were asked to formally declare that Havant Borough Council has No Confidence in Southern Water’s ability to protect the local environment, deliver robust infrastructure, or maintain public health standards within the borough. The motion also asked them to:

• Instruct the Chief Executive to write immediately to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ofwat, and the Environment Agency, outlining this Council’s vote and demanding urgent regulatory action against Southern Water and to inspect local assets (including Budds Farm), and consider statutory measures to enforce rapid infrastructure upgrades.
• Formally request that the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Planning Inspectorate pause or re-evaluate approvals for the Havant Thicket Water Recycling component until Southern Water can demonstrate an unbroken track record of regulatory compliance and environmental safety in the region.
• Demand that Southern Water fully fund independent, real-time water quality testing and public electronic warning signage across Havant's coastal bathing waters, including Hayling Island.

CEO Lawrence Gosden tells councillors “progress is being made - but meaningful change will take time”

Photo: Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works

Ahead of the Council debate, Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden wrote to Havant Borough councillors to clearly set out the company’s investment and improvement plans.

In his letter, he acknowledged the strength of local concern about pollution, storm overflows and the condition of water infrastructure. He then set out the action Southern Water is taking to improve performance and protect Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, Hayling Island and the surrounding waters, while recognising that meaningful change will take time.

Lawrence Gosden said:

“I understand why this motion has been brought. People are angry about pollution, storm overflows and the condition of our infrastructure. They expect more from Southern Water. So do I.

“Communities have waited too long for improvements. We are now mobilising the largest capital investment programme Southern Water has seen in a generation, backed by our regulators and supported by the funding and delivery plan needed to turn commitments into action.

“The operational turnaround is already taking hold, and we are on track to be at or near the top of the industry in key areas including external flooding. That does not mean every problem has been solved. It does show that Southern Water can change, that our plans are working and that our colleagues are delivering real improvement.

“Southern Water still has a great deal to prove. But we are investing, improving and changing. This is the moment to hold us to the transformation we have begun, not to conclude that it cannot happen.”

Southern Water has offered to brief the council following its debate and answer questions about Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works, storm overflows, coastal information and water recycling.

The company has also offered councillors visits to Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works and Havant Thicket Reservoir to see the investment and work in progress.