The eventual calling of an emergency meeting of Wealden District Council to discuss the ongoing water crisis in East Sussex has been welcomed.
The extraordinary meeting is set for Wednesday 28th June at 10am and will discuss a motion calling on South East Water to explain why taps ran dry and to confirm action being taken to avoid a repeat.
Conservative councillors first called for such a meeting over a week ago and are questioning why it has taken so long to be arranged. It was on the first day of the disaster that Cllr Michael Lunn (Hadlow Down and Rotherfield) suggested the council meet to discuss the emergency.
“Residents, businesses and farms were left without any running water for up to a week and, quite frankly, Wealden District Council could and should have acted sooner”, says Cllr Lunn. “I asked three times for an emergency meeting and my requests were either ignored or rejected.”
Despite initial refusals to hold a meeting, it took Lib-Dem and Independent members to broker a deal with the acting council leader, Rachel Millward, who has now added her name to the emergency motion.
“It is more than ironic that Cllr Millward has appended her name to a motion when, for over two weeks, she refused to stage a meeting”, says Cllr Lunn.
The council’s acting leader has come in for criticism over her handling of the crisis. “Cllr Rachel Millward went on local radio on the second day of the emergency but made absolutely no reference to the plight of residents who were having to live without running water”, says Cllr Lunn. “The matter wasn’t even mentioned in the lengthy and wide-ranging interview [on Ashdown Radio].”
In email replies to residents concerned about the ongoing water supply issues, the Green Party leader at Wealden referred to ‘excessive demand’ being a causal factor. “It is totally irresponsible to blame residents for the plight they suffered”, says Cllr Michael Lunn. “We know the reservoirs are well-stocked and it is South-East Water’s infrastructure issues that led to the emergency.”
It is hoped that the meeting will also discuss communication during the calamity. “Councillors saw first-hand, and many residents have commented on the council’s inability to deal with issues and concerns raised”, adds Cllr Lunn. “South-East Water made many false promises but the council appeared completely ineffective in seeking answers. Residents are right to be angry.”
