North Cornwall Water Quality Highlighted by Holiday Park
Padstow holiday park highlights North Cornwall water quality by hosting water quality talks with MP. North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire put water safety at the top of his agenda during a visit this August to Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park near Padstow.
Mr Maguire met with Surfers Against Sewage CEO Giles Bristow and the park’s MD Patrick Langmaid to hear their concerns over accusations of failure by South West Water.
Mr Langmaid highlighted a recent review of his park on TripAdvisor in which a customer had pointed out 133 confirmed sewage spills in 2023 into Mother Ivey’s Bay from the St Merryn Storm Overflow.
“This review on a public platform highlights the damage that is already being done by South West Water to tourism businesses like mine,” said Mr Langmaid.
“Records show that sewage spills like those mentioned by the reviewer are becoming more frequent, and the time for action is now,” he added.
Surfers Against Sewage Campaign for Better North Cornwall Water Quality
Mr Bristow, whose charity Surfers Against Sewage campaigns to protect seas, beaches and marine life against water pollution, told the MP that the sewage crisis was worsening:
“Unacceptable sewage discharges are affecting the environment, impacting public health, and harming businesses like Mr Langmaid’s which are the lifeblood of Cornwall’s economy.
“South West Water must invest now to protect these wonderful beaches, the health of swimmers and surfers, and vital tourist businesses like this fantastic Cornwall holiday park.
“They must talk with businesses and the public about the way our rivers and seas are being affected by sewage discharges. The priority must be to keep people safe,” said Mr Bristow.
Mr Langmaid showed Ben Maguire the practical steps taken by Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park to help ensure the safety of their guests, including signage in reception linking to the Surfers Against Sewage app which monitors bathing water quality.
Mr Maguire added his concerns, stating: “One of our greatest assets in North Cornwall is our stunning coastline, and I know that many of our constituents and businesses are very concerned about how it is currently being spoiled by South West Water.
“By failing to look after our rivers and seas, they are not only damaging the environment but also adversely impacting the tourism and hospitality sector.
“I look forward to meeting South West Water’s chief executive shortly to find out how they intend to address these urgent issues,” said the MP.
Mr Langmaid added: “It is just not good enough for South West Water to talk about how much investment they are making. While the numbers are big, if the problem persists, then they are simply not big enough!”
Patrick Langmaid is a long-term supporter of local initiatives and charities including the Beach Guardians who work tirelessly to clean and protect local beaches.
In addition, he supports Wadebridge Foodbank to help local families in need, and as a member of the Real Living Wage Foundation is a vocal advocate for improving pay and conditions for hospitality workers.
