Southern Water chief to visit Isle of Wight after calls from concerned Liberal Democrat councillors
Isle of Wight Liberal Democrat councillors have written directly to Southern Water‘s chief executive, Lawrence Gosden, calling on him to visit the Island to address what they describe as two escalating and interlinked crises.
The letter, signed by councillors Michael Lilley, Sarah Redrup, Andrew Garratt and Nick Stuart, raises urgent concerns about the ongoing discharge of sewage into coastal waters and the severe impact of Southern Water’s infrastructure works on local businesses and the road network.
A spokesperson at Southern Water told OnTheWight,
“Our CEO Lawrence Gosden is in contact with the Liberal Democrat Councillors of the Isle of Wight Council and will arrange a time to visit the island in due course.”
Businesses hit hard by road disruption
Local businesses report significant losses in trade, with some experiencing falls in footfall as high as 50 per cent, as a direct result of prolonged road closures, diversions, and what the councillors describe as poor coordination of infrastructure works.
The letter to the CEO stated that businesses have experienced reduced customer access, delivery delays, staff commuting difficulties, and sustained loss of revenue over extended periods.
The councillors wrote that on an island economy heavily reliant on small businesses, hospitality, tourism, and local footfall, the cumulative impact is serious and, in some cases, threatens viability.
Record rainfall fuelling daily sewage discharges
According to the letter, since the beginning of 2026, record rainfall has led to Southern Water discharging sewage on a daily and hourly basis into the English Channel, the Solent, and Isle of Wight waterways.
The councillors cite data from the Safer Seas and Rivers Service as evidence, pointing to an example in Ryde on 19th February 2026 as one illustration of the ongoing pattern of discharges.
Calls for a visit and direct engagement
While acknowledging that Southern Water is investing in updating its infrastructure on the Island, the councillors say this investment is not keeping pace with the realities on the ground.
They argue that only by Mr Gosden physically visiting the Island, together with his board, and meeting with the council, local MPs, and residents, will Southern Water gain a full understanding of the problems communities face.
The councillors are also planning to submit a motion to the full Isle of Wight Council calling for an emergency public meeting with Southern Water’s chief executive and board, to hold the company to account over sewage discharges, the impact on the Solent and Island ecosystems, and recent rises in water bills for Island residents.
Direct approach to avoid formal motion
The letter makes clear that the councillors are writing directly to Mr Gosden in order to avoid the need to pursue the formal council motion, and requested a response as quickly as possible.
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley, council leader Phil Jordan, and Wendy Perera, chief executive of Isle of Wight Council were all copied in.
The councillors closed their letter with a direct appeal,
“We urge you to visit and listen and learn the realities of our issues on an Island that is totally reliant on your services to live.”
