RESIDENTS have expressed their anger and frustration to water bosses about the amount of sewage being pumped into Newquay’s coastline.

Alan Burrows, South West Water’s director of external liaison and Andy Pettifer, the company’s waste water operations manager, gave a presentation at Pentire Residents’ Association meeting held at the Pentire Hotel.

Residents called for South West Water to do more to stop the amount sewage regularly being discharged into Fistral, Newquay Bay, Crantock Beach and the Gannel.

Peter Hargrave from Pentire Resident’s Association said: “There was a good turnout for the meeting and we thought the South West Water presentation, discussion and responses to member's questions was relevant, very helpful and interesting. 

“The feedback was consistently positive.  Whilst some participants inevitably expressed some passion and frustration around the high number of sewages discharges, it was very clear attendees were highly engaged and found the presentation very helpful. 

“Alan Burrows and Andy Pettifer from South West Water did their best to answer questions from participants.  It is clear SWW face some major challenges in implementing their very ambitious 2025 to 2030 business plan but as a result of the presentation we all have a far better understanding now of South West Water's goals and plans along with the complexities involved.

“South West Water has committed to reducing the number of storm overflow sewage discharges to less than 10 per location by 2030 and by spring next year, we expect to have fuller information on SWW's specific plans for how they intend to achieve this objective for the Crantock, Fistral and Newquay town beaches and the Gannel.

“We will invite SWW to attend a follow up meeting sometime next year.”

A spokesperson for Pentire Residents Association added: “After heavy rain, if groundwater levels are already high, rain and 'clean water' overwhelms the combined system. If SWW pressure valves did not release it, it would back up into our homes.

“One of the key issues facing SWW when it comes to solving sewage outflows is the legacy combined system of drainage that allows dirty and clean surface water together with sewage into the outflow. The others include climate change and population growth.

“The River Gannel also takes the brunt of drainage this side of Newlyn East and is also affected by agricultural runoff from fields and roads etc locally. Newlyn East Treatment Works empties to the area.

“SWW is currently conducted a survey to reduce 45 spills to 10 by taking the ‘clean’ water out i.e. water that is not sewage. If this is removed the flow becomes ‘a trickle. For its part, SWW could not have been more open and forthcoming. It was local democracy in action.”