Devon’s premier ‘Blue Flag’ beaches were subject to 240 raw sewage spills in 2022

Sidmouth, Exmouth, Torquay and Stoke Fleming had a total of 240 sewage spills in 2022. 

Blue Flag beaches are meant to be England's cleanest, and yet new data from the Environment Agency shows that water companies dumped sewage onto them 1,504 times last year, and the four worst affected Blue Flag beaches are in Devon. 

The Blue Flag status is an international marker of water quality and safety, but the new data raises concerns about water pollution for swimmers and wildlife. 

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to act now to stop the spills, arguing that the current target to stop them by 2038 is too far away. The party is also calling for the executives of failing water companies to have their bonuses cancelled.  

South West Water is one of the worst performing water companies in England and consequently it has only been awarded a one-star by the Environment Agency.  The company was subject to a recent investigation due to the number of sewage spills it allowed.

In Sidmouth there were 59 sewage spills lasting a total of 631 hours and in Exmouth there were 39 spills lasting 470 hours. 

The worst spills were on Stoke Fleming beach near Dartmouth where 63 spills lasted a total of 1,041 hours. Torquay experienced 79 spills over 946 hours.

Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord said: Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord said: "South West Water is one of the worst performing water firms in the whole country and yet we're seeing our bills continue to rise. 

"These negligent companies are being let off the hook by this Conservative Government, which had to be shamed into taking even the most limited action. 

"It was only my amendment which stopped taxpayer-funded loans being given to these polluting firms, in the absence of plans to clear up the mess.  

"Conservative MPs across the West Country have also voted to allow 15 more years of sewage dumping in our rivers and onto our beaches, by setting a far-off deadline of 2038 for water companies to stop these spills. 

"Therese Coffey is coming up to the six month point in her job as Environment Secretary. In most workplaces, someone who was not managing during their probationary period would be let go. Her failure to take meaningful action on these water companies shows she simply doesn't care about our country's rivers and seas. 

"What is the point of an Environment Secretary who doesn't care about the environment? She should be put out her professional misery and be replaced by someone who actually understands just how damaging these sewage spills are to communities like ours. 

"Conservative MPs have shown time and again that they couldn't care less about our rivers and coastlines. This Government is as guilty as the water companies in allowing this national nature scandal and Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account."