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Jess Brown-Fuller calls on government to debate Havant Thicket water recycling scheme
- edmundlegrave
- Oct 17
- 1 min read
MP Jess Brown-Fuller has urged the government to set aside time in the House of Commons to debate the benefits of water recycling schemes and reservoirs. Her call comes amid controversy over a proposed effluent recycling facility linked to the new Havant Thicket reservoir project.
Jess said this,
“The Havant Thicket reservoir, which is just outside my constituency, is the first reservoir to be built in 30 years. It is a welcome investment in the south-east, which is designated as water-stressed, but it is also the proposed site of an effluent recycling scheme; it is the first time that that has been used to supplement drinking water in the UK. With confidence in Southern Water at an all-time low, will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on water recycling schemes and reservoirs?”
Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell responded,
“It may be the first reservoir in 30 years, but we are committed to making sure that it is not the last. Putting right the crumbling infrastructure that we were left with is an important part of growth, which is the priority of this Government. I cannot comment specifically on what the hon. Lady has said, but I will draw it to the attention of Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She may seek to raise the issue at questions or at a meeting with Ministers, or indeed call for a debate on it.”
I support the action you are taking but, in my view, there is a more serious problem in the Wittering Ward which is the current inadequacy of the sewage network where the residents have to endure system backing up and sewage surcharging from manholes into the streets during wet spells. Prior to 2015 Southern Water expressed great concern when planning applications for the local area were submitted by responding each time by stating the network is inadequate to take on more connections. Since the hundreds of additional connections have been made without any upgrades being implemented. I write to Southern Water regularly but get no response. I am now looking towards Parliament to have SW resolve this outstanding issue of…