AN MP has hit back at Conservatives following a call for Southern Water to clean up its act after sewage was dumped in the sea.

Peter Kyle MP for Hove and Portslade says the Tory MPs “are up to their necks” in the problem. 

It comes after a letter to Southern Water was co-signed by the MPs calling for action to be taken after the water company was found to be dumping sewage into the water last week.

The Argus: Martyn Craddock posted the video of the sea in Seaford to social media last weekMartyn Craddock posted the video of the sea in Seaford to social media last week

However, of the 13 MPs who signed the letter, eight previously voted against legislation which would have placed restrictions on companies to reduce the waste pumped into the sea.

Last year, an amendment to the Environment Bill was voted down by 265 votes to 202.

The Argus: Peter Kyle MP for Hove and PortsladePeter Kyle MP for Hove and Portslade (Image: The Argus)

Mr Kyle told The Argus: “No amount of letter signing can paper over the fact that every Sussex Tory MP voted for an amendment that wrecked attempts to have discharge reduction targets in law and a binding end date altogether.

“Thanks to them every gallon of effluent currently on our beaches is there lawfully and they’re up to their necks in it.

“When I say we need a fresh start with Labour I mean it in every sense, starting with our local beaches.”

The MPs named on the letter who voted against the amendment are:

  • Maria Caulfield, Lewes 
  • Nus Ghani, Wealden 
  • Mims Davies, Mid Sussex 
  • Gillian Keegan, Chichester 
  • Nick Gibb, Bognor and Littlehampton 
  • Sally-Ann Hart, Hastings and Rye 
  • Henry Smith, Crawley
  • Andrew Griffith, Arundel and South Downs

In response to why she voted against the amendment, Maria Caulfield said: "The amendment proposed by the Lords, which we voted against, was well intentioned but called for an immediate end to sewage outflows which would have meant any overflow would have led to sewage leaking into peoples homes, gardens and roads without an alternative system in place." 

On Tuesday, The Argus reported that heavy rain had been linked to sewage being emptied at 13 beach locations.

Residents have reported that they have noticed a significant drop in the number of people swimming and paddling at Brighton beach over the last few days, likely due to sewage concerns.