Devon MP challenges Government to prioritise South West Water's "captive" customers

Richard Foord, MP for the Honiton and Sidmouth constituency, made the case in a Westminster Hall debate on Monday 14 September. MPs were debating a petition that calls for a referendum on public ownership of the water industry. It has been signed by more than 208,000 people, 634 of them in the Honiton & Sidmouth constituency.

The debate came two weeks after the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said the Government would set out plans for "stronger public control" over water later this year. Responding for the Government, Water Minister Emma Hardy said the change of Prime Minister had opened up options that were not previously available.

Foord said to fellow MPs in the debate:

"Many people in my area would like South West Water to become a company for the public benefit and mutualised."

The average South West Water household bill for water and sewerage is £740 in 2026/27, the second highest of any water and sewerage company in England and Wales. 

Mr Foord, who led a Commons debate on sewage in the River Otter in June, said after the debate:

"Nobody in Devon can choose their water company. Families in Devon pay among the highest water bills in England and Wales, and swimmers in Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton still have to check for a pollution alert before they go into the sea.

"Those customers are captive. They cannot take their custom elsewhere when the service fails them, yet the company that owns South West Water paid out £138 million to its shareholders for its last financial year.

"The Prime Minister has pledged stronger public control of water. That plan should make South West Water a company run for the public benefit, with its profits reinvested in sewers and treatment works. Local people and environmental concerns should be represented on its board. South West Water should answer to the people who pay its bills."

In 2025, untreated sewage was discharged into the River Otter, which runs through Honiton and Ottery St Mary, for more than 5,000 hours. Pennon Group, which owns South West Water, declared dividends of £138.2 million for the year to 31 March 2026.