Wealden Conservatives call for emergency meeting of Wealden District Council to discuss South East Water failure to solve water crisis
The recent water supply problems in North Wealden have caused significant and prolonged distress and disruption to residents, businesses, schools and other bodies. As of today, there remains no plan or timetable for resolution. The latest position from South East Water is their Cottage Hill Reservoir is struggling to fill, and water shortages could continue into the weekend.
The response of the Wealden Lib Dem/Green Alliance Administration has been chaotic and indecisive.
The council leader (Lib Dem Cllr. James Partridge) claims that he and his Deputy Leader (Green Party Cllr. Rachel Millward) are seeking an emergency meeting with the SEW CEO. Yet, Millward when interviewed at length on Ashdown Radio on Tuesday made no comment at all about the water supply crisis affecting many residents, while Partridge has just headed off on holiday for three weeks (after just a month in office). In effect no one is in Authority at Wealden District Council which is deeply concerning.
“It is shocking that Wealden’s ruling Cabinet is not holding South-East Water to account as the crisis escalates”, says Conservative leader, Cllr Ann Newton. “With more schools being forced to close, no published timetable as to when supplies will return, and the water company unable to issues assurances to our MP, it is surely time for emergency action.”
She went on to say:
“Being what’s known as a Category One responder, Wealden District Council could declare a major incident which would then bring in other agencies automatically, not least the county council and Sussex Resilience Forum”, adds Cllr Newton. “The systems are in place for catastrophes such as this. The wheels need to be put in motion, now.”
Various Lib Dem councillors have sought on social media either to shift responsibility by claiming that it is down to South-East Water to act to declare a major incident or that responsibility sits with the County Council as the “senior partner” in the Emergency Planning Partnership.
District Councillor Michael Lunn representing Rotherfield and Hadlow Down observed: “These responses are evasive and factually incorrect and underline the poor experience and managerial competence of the new cabinet.”
His colleague Conservative County & District Councillor Jo Howell commented:
“The East Sussex Emergency Planning Partnership memorandum of understanding is clear that the County Council is an equal partner with each of the Districts and Boroughs. It is in the gift of any agency to declare a major incident – that includes Wealden District who are the local agency.”
She went on to say:
“It is Wealden District that is impacted by this, and it is up to Wealden District to assess whether the position merits declaring a major incident. Partner agencies can then assist them.”
Councillor Lunn added:
“Wealden District Cabinet have to get off the fence. Do they believe that SEW are on top of this? Their decision making is not hostage to whether SEW believe this to be a major incident or not. We call on them to act with urgency now and call for an emergency Council meeting.”
