Southern Water has admitted releasing millions of plastic pellets (“bio-beads”) onto Camber Beach and along the Sussex and Kent coastline.

This happened because of faulty equipment and poor maintenance at their Eastbourne wastewater treatment plant.

These pellets are highly polluting. They are small enough for marine life to ingest, they scatter for miles, and they can stay in the environment for years. Our beaches, wildlife, and local communities are now forced to deal with the consequences of Southern Water’s negligence.

An apology is not enough.

We demand real accountability and immediate action:
 

1. A full, daily cleanup operation funded entirely by Southern Water until pellets are no longer washing ashore.

 

2. Replacement of plastic bio-beads with modern, non-plastic alternatives. This technology already exists — they must install it.

 

3. Public release of maintenance records and inspection failures. We deserve transparency about how this happened.

 

4. An independent audit of all Southern Water treatment sites to ensure other plants aren’t leaking plastic into the sea.

 

5. Meaningful regulatory penalties the Environment Agency and Ofwat must impose fines and binding improvement notices.

 

Why this matters
 

 

Camber Beach is a place for families, wildlife, swimmers, dog-walkers, and visitors.

Southern Water’s failure has put all of that at risk. They are a repeat offender.

Unless strict action is taken now, this will happen again.