I’ve called for fully independent, year-round testing of Worthing’s bathing waters, arguing that residents deserve reliable information about the quality of the sea they’re swimming in, rather than relying solely on results published by Southern Water itself.

As Worthing Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, I’ve proposed amendments to a council motion on bathing water pollution, calling for greater transparency, stronger accountability and a more ambitious approach to monitoring the quality of our coastal waters.

People in Worthing are rightly fed up with sewage pollution and the repeated failures of our water industry.

Southern Water has a responsibility to provide accurate information about what’s happening in our waters, but simply asking the company to publish its own testing results isn’t good enough.

We cannot allow Southern Water to mark its own homework. We must be more ambitious than that.

Independent testing throughout the year

One of my principal concerns is that residents need access to reliable, independently produced information about bathing water quality.

The Environment Agency already carries out statutory monitoring during the designated bathing water season, providing important information about the condition of our coastal waters.

But people use Worthing’s beaches and swim in the sea throughout the year, not just during the summer months.

That’s why I’ve called for fully independent, year-round water quality testing, with the results made publicly available.

This would complement the Environment Agency’s existing monitoring and help provide a clearer understanding of water quality throughout the changing seasons.

I believe that’s the level of transparency and accountability we should be demanding.

Residents should be able to make informed decisions about entering the water, supported by trustworthy information about potential pollution risks.

Supporting community-led monitoring and citizen science

I’m proud that Worthing Borough Council is playing an active role in protecting and improving our bathing waters, working alongside local swimming groups, environmental organisations and campaigners.

Citizen science has an important part to play in that work.

Local volunteers and community organisations can help collect valuable information, identify potential problems and contribute to a better understanding of what’s happening along our coastline.

Southern Water already supports citizen science initiatives through training, equipment and testing, while work is also taking place with the council on the Yellow Fish campaign, raising awareness of how pollutants can enter surface water drains and local waterways.

I welcome constructive cooperation where it helps improve our understanding of water quality.

However, community monitoring and information provided by water companies should complement, rather than replace, robust independent scrutiny.

Residents deserve reliable information about the water they’re swimming in, and we should be supporting local people to help hold those responsible for pollution to account.

West Sussex County Council must play its part

Another important part of my proposed amendments concerns the responsibilities of West Sussex County Council.

As the County Councillor for Worthing West, I’ve been raising concerns about pollution entering our stormwater drainage systems, particularly through highway gullies and associated drainage infrastructure.

While Southern Water must be held accountable for its responsibilities, protecting our bathing waters requires every relevant organisation to play its part.

Pollutants entering surface water drainage systems can eventually reach our rivers, streams and coastal waters.

That’s why I’ve proposed that Worthing Borough Council formally writes to West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, seeking assurances about what action is being taken to prevent pollutants entering the stormwater system through highway drainage infrastructure.

We need better coordination between the County Council, borough councils, Southern Water and the Environment Agency to identify problems, investigate their causes and ensure appropriate action is taken.

This is about recognising that water pollution is a shared challenge requiring a joined-up response.

Southern Water responds to my proposals

Following my intervention, Southern Water responded to the concerns raised in the local press.

The company acknowledged the importance of independent assessment by the Environment Agency and confirmed that it was open to discussions about year-round testing.

Southern Water also highlighted the different factors that can affect bathing water quality, including rainfall, surface water runoff and wildlife, and the importance of cooperation between councils, regulators and community organisations.

I welcome the willingness to discuss additional monitoring.

But I remain clear that independent testing, transparent reporting and effective accountability must be central to any future arrangements.

We should not have to rely solely on the organisation responsible for wastewater services to tell us how clean our coastal waters are.

Protecting Worthing’s coastline

Our beaches and coastline are among Worthing’s greatest assets.

They’re places where residents swim, exercise, relax and enjoy the natural environment throughout the year.

Protecting them is not simply an environmental issue. It’s also about public health, community wellbeing and ensuring future generations can enjoy our coastline.

I support bringing the water industry back into public ownership, but regardless of the ownership model, we need effective regulation, reliable monitoring and clear accountability.

I’ll continue working with local residents, swimming groups, environmental campaigners and the relevant public authorities to push for improvements.

My position is straightforward: Worthing deserves clean bathing waters, independent testing and full transparency about pollution.

That’s what I’ll continue working towards.