NORTH Cornwall’s MP has said ‘South West Water is outright failing in their duty’ after sewage was dumped at Widemouth Bay beach.

Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, has demanded ‘urgent action’ from South West Water’s chief executive, Keith Haslett, following the latest incident.

On February 15, sewage was discharged from an overflow at the north coast beach. According to Surfers Against Sewage’s pollution alerts: “Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A sewer overflow discharges 270 metres upstream that flows to the sea across Widemouth Bay. Bathing water quality can also be affected by other discharges from the surrounding urban area.”

Mr Maguire has demanded South West Water bring forward upgrade works currently scheduled for 2030, and has said he will be raising the incident directly with the Water Minister at an upcoming meeting.

“This is yet another absolutely unacceptable sewage dump by South West Water,” he said. “This time during the school holidays, when families and their young children are enjoying our beaches, raw sewage is being discharged into the sea at Widemouth.

“Cornwall cannot continue to be treated like a dumping ground. I have urgently contacted South West Water’s chief executive to demand that planned upgrade works are brought forward with urgency. I’ll also be raising these repeated failures, including countless other sewage dumps, during my upcoming meeting with the minister.

“My constituents deserve clean, safe beaches. At the moment, South West Water is outright failing in their duty to deliver this.”

Despite criticism, South West Water has refuted claims regarding the uncleanliness of Widemouth Bay’s water.

A spokesperson added: “There is a common misconception regarding water discolouration. The brown discolouration seen on Widemouth Bay is run off upstream from the catchment.”