A sewage leak at Uphill Beach has angered locals, prompting demands for accountability from Wessex Water over the incident
Weston-super-Mare: A sewage spill at Uphill Beach has really got people riled up. Locals and officials are calling out Wessex Water for better accountability.
The mess happened because a temporary pipe burst after heavy rain, letting raw sewage flow into the sea and messing up the beach entrance.
Councillor Mike Bell, who leads the Liberal Democrats on the North Somerset Council, didn’t hold back. He slammed Wessex Water for not keeping everyone in the loop about the sewage leak. He said, “Come on Wessex, own up when things go wrong and tell us what you are doing about it.”
This temporary pipe was put in place back in December after a permanent one under the sand dunes started leaking. Unfortunately, it couldn’t handle the extra water from the rain, leading to the spill. Wessex Water has fixed the pipe and closed off the road to the beach while they work on repairs.
A spokesperson for Wessex Water called the situation regrettable. They explained that the temporary pipe failed due to stormy weather, which caused sewage to enter the sea and erode the access causeway.
They assured everyone that the pipe is now fixed and they’re working with the local council and the Environment Agency to make the area safe again. They also apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Councillor Bell shared some images of the beach, highlighting the damage. He stressed that while this incident might be a one-off, it shows the need for real change. “Sewage pipes shouldn’t be running along our beaches,” he said.
The local council is teaming up with volunteers and water companies to improve water quality along the coast. But Bell pointed out that these efforts depend on the cooperation of the water companies, criticizing Wessex Water for not being transparent.
“With all the scrutiny on water companies right now, they need to be open about what’s happening,” he added.
He did express some relief that Wessex Water has repaired the leak and is making progress on restoring the beach entrance. However, with more rain on the way, it might take a few days before the beach access can reopen.
