Bathers given second pollution warning in just a week
13:17, 10 Oct 2026Updated 14:47, 10 Oct 2026
Plymouth and Sutton MP Luke Pollard wild swimming(Image: Luke Pollard’s office)
Plymouth MP Luke Pollard says he is “disgusted” with South West Water after swimmers were told not to bathe at the Hoe for the second time in a week due to sewage.
The Sutton and Devonport MP took to social media to call the situation “unacceptable” and demanded water company bosses “get off their ****s”.
It came after the Environment Agency (EA) issued advice for swimmers to avoid Plymouth Hoe East and West due to an “unpermitted discharge” stemming from operational issues at Plymouth Central Wastewater Treatment Works.
Plymouth City Council today said that “bathing is not advised due to pollution from sewage” at both Plymouth Hoe East and Plymouth Hoe West.
It said the incident began at 1.34pm yesterday, October 9, and will continue until tomorrow, October 11.
Normally, the water quality at the two sites is rated as “excellent”, but the latest warning comes just a week after bathers were told to avoid the Hoe due to a sewage discharge from a storm overflow at the River Plym.
The warning was put in place last Saturday, October 3, and removed on Monday, October 5.
Mr Pollard said he received an email yesterday evening from the Environment Agency to say it was advising people not to swim off the Hoe because of “South West Water”.
Mr Pollard said: “I’m frankly disgusted with them (South West Water). It’s simply unacceptable for them to treat Plymouth with such disrespect.
“Well done to the Environment Agency and the regulators for doing what they should do, holding these water companies to account and it is now time for South West Water’s management to get off their ***** and to put in play the emergency measures that we need so the water that goes into Plymouth Sound is safe for Plymouth to swim in.
“This is simply not acceptable. This is the second time that this has happened.”
The Labour MP said he was unhappy that South West Water had not notified people about the sewage incident and said: “Either they didn’t know or they didn’t want to share it with us, Both are unacceptable.”
And he demanded: “South West Water, pull your finger out. This is not good enough at all.”
The EA has said that an investigation is ongoing and that it would include enforcement action “where necessary”.
South West Water today told PlymouthLive: “We understand the concern that advice against bathing can cause for swimmers and other water users and are reviewing the latest information following recent rainfall while continuing to work closely with the Environment Agency.
“As part of our ongoing work in the area, we have been undertaking maintenance to improve the reliability of monitoring equipment and continue to monitor water quality and review operational data.
“Protecting bathing water quality remains a priority and we will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency as we assess the situation.”
Last month, South West Water was fined £7.8m for a series of pollution-related offences over six years, including in Plymouth.
This week, Mr Pollard wrote to the chief executive of South West Water, Keith Haslett, to demand that he publish an investment plan for Plymouth Central Wastewater Works, at Cattedown, within six weeks.
He said the company had failed to protect water quality, and people in Plymouth “have been paying the price for far too long”.
Mr Pollard said: “Sewage dumping is unacceptable. Underinvestment in our infrastructure is unacceptable. And the foul smelling pong at Cattedown is unacceptable.”
He added: “It is vital they make clear this will not be laid at the foot of billpayers, and that investment in our infrastructure comes from South West Water profits.
“When Parliament returns, I will be voting for Andy Burnham’s plans to increase public control over water companies and to repeal the ban on public ownership of water.
“In the meantime South West Water must invest in its crumbling infrastructure and fix this mess”
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