More towns across Devon and Cornwall to join pollution fight
Almost 1,500 people and businesses claim they've been impacted by water pollution - as they look to take legal action
More coastal towns across Devon and Cornwall are being invited to join a first-of-its-kind legal challenge against water pollution.
The expanded Exmouth claim - against South West Water - is the first environmental group legal claim by a coastal community against a water company to tackle sewage pollution in the UK.
From today those affected by pollution in Dawlish, Sidmouth, Teignmouth, Newquay and Penzance are invited to join the legal action by Leigh Day.
The claim was first launched in 2024, following legal action taken by wild swimmer and Exmouth resident Jo Bateman against South West Water.
A spokesperson for the Leigh Day said: "More than 1,400 clients from the Exmouth, Lympstone and Budleigh Salterton areas, have joined the claim since its launch, with both individuals and businesses objecting to SWW’s management of the region’s sewerage network and particularly its repeated use of Combined Storm Overflows or “CSOs”, which trigger bathing alerts and beach closures, preventing people from using the coast, which is central to public life in the area."
They added: "The expansion means the claim has the potential to be as big as the environmental legal claim being run by Leigh Day over pollution in the Wye Catchment. Currently the Wye claim, against Welsh Water and Avara Foods poultry group, is the biggest ever to be brought in the UK over UK pollution.
"Devon and Cornwall combined have more than 900 miles of coastline, 150 designated bathing water sites, and numerous protected areas. The region’s sewerage system is managed by SWW, which in 2024 was reported to have discharged 544,429 hours of untreated sewage into the region’s seas and rivers. The water company was also recorded as the sector’s worst performer for sewage pollution incidents in 2024."
Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland, who leads the claim, said: “This marks an important step in the claim, with the letter before action setting out in detail the reasons why legal action is being taken, and expanding the scope to cover Devon and Cornwall more widely.
"South West Water has a track record of very poor environmental performance, and my clients allege this has badly impacted their lives and livelihoods. By outlining my clients’ claims and expanding in this way, we are ensuring anyone who feels they have been impacted by sewage pollution in Dawlish, Sidmouth, Teignmouth, or at Longrock beach or Fistral beach in Cornwall, has the opportunity to take action.”
What has South West Water said?
In a statement the firm said: "We are aware of this claim and whilst we are unable to provide a further comment at this time, like all our customers, we care deeply about the quality of our region’s bathing waters and fully understand how important this is to residents, businesses and visitors."
The spokesperson highlighted this latest press release which showed the use of storm overflows was down 17 per cent despite the recent higher rainfall.
Richard Price, Managing Director of Wastewater Services at South West Water, said: “We have continued to reduce storm overflow use despite South West England experiencing 62% more rainfall than the rest of England in 2025. Against that backdrop, we have reduced spills by 17% in the last year, and spill duration is down by 25%.
"Our focus has been clear - prioritising beaches during the bathing season and targeting our highest spilling sites. We have reduced by 50% the number of sites that spill more than 100 times per year, and our top five spilling sites have reduced spills by 50% following targeted interventions. Since last year, more than 8,300 spills have been prevented as a direct result of investment and operational improvements. This forms part of our 15-year plan, backed by around £760 million of investment to 2030.
"We are proud to lead the industry on monitoring and transparency. We measure more spills, more often, with 100% overflow monitoring meaning our data is robust, accurate and fully transparent."
What have some of the campaigners backing the legal challenge said?
Michael Caines MBE owned seafront restaurant Mickeys in Exmouth and relied on seasonal trade linked to beach use and tourism.
Following repeated sewage pollution incidents during summer 2024 and beach closures during peak periods, Michael saw a sharp fall in the number of customers and revenue.
After investors withdrew their support due to concerns about the ongoing pollution issues in Exmouth, and the loss of summer income, Michael made the decision to close the business at the end of 2024.
Michael said: “We had a short period to make business. The restaurant had only been open for a couple of years so having a good year was really crucial for us.
“The summer business is fundamental, but an interruption like this where people are told that it's not safe to go in the sea - it was like the nail in the coffin to us and at the end of 2024, we had to sell the business.
"People in Exmouth have always been aware of pollution but it's never been to the extent of recent times. The residents and businesses have been affected by poor planning and an infrastructure that has not kept up.
"Exmouth was a fine, stunning beach but residents can no longer enjoy it due to sewage pollution. It's a real ongoing concern and it does not seem to be addressed seriously - not just for the environment but for local residents and the community.
"Initially we were reluctant to join the legal case, but then we realised that this case highlighted why our numbers were affected so heavily. Our town relies heavily on tourism, so this has had a catastrophic effect on the numbers of people going to the beach and in doing so, the local economy.”
Angela Ashwin – Exmouth resident and year-round sea swimmer
Exmouth resident Angela Ashwin has swum in the sea all year round since 2014. Swimming in the sea has helped her to manage a long-term health condition for years.
Since 2020, Angela says that she has seen a significant deterioration in the water quality in Exmouth. However, she kept on swimming in the sea, when there was a pollution alert in place, until July 2024 when she became severely unwell after going swimming during a sewage discharge. Since that incident, she is much more cautious and only swims when there are no sewage alerts in place.
Angela said: "I moved to Exmouth with my husband in 2000 because I loved visiting the beach so much. I thought it was such a special and beautiful place.
“When we started seeing all the sewage alerts, that was a huge shock to us. It's not just a hobby - it's a health necessity. It helps me manage my health conditions and it's a way of connecting with nature, the endless sea, seeing the sun rising.
“The pollution has been so relentless, many people have stopped going to the beach. Swimmers, sailors, even people going on walks. It is a very painful process seeing the community shrink.
"The sewage discharges in January must have lasted days - it feels non-stop.
"I feel I have been very affected. The beach had been one of the biggest beauties in the area and now no one wants to go there anymore, and people talk about moving away. It feels like it has been taken away from us. We feel helpless, we just don't dare go into the water anymore.
"It's a violation of nature in such a beautiful place - it was beautiful when I first moved here – more beautiful than any other place. But it's all destroyed now.”
Oliver Bainbridge – brewery/bar owner
Oliver Bainbridge runs a bar and a brewery in the town centre and has found himself affected by reduced tourism. Oliver says footfall in his bar has been markedly down, and local businesses he supplies have reduced their orders from his brewery.
Oliver is also concerned about the long-term damage to Exmouth as a town and destination. He fears that the impact of sewage pollution will change behaviour in years to come and may permanently put people off Exmouth as a destination. He has already had people cancel bookings at his bar, citing the sewage pollution problems.
Oliver said: "Running a bar and brewery in Exmouth, swells and dips in tourism have a direct impact on my business. In the past few years, footfall has been down, and people have cited sewage pollution as a reason for cancelling bookings at my bar. Other businesses appear to have suffered as well, with some establishments supplied by my brewery are also experiencing reduced numbers.
"I feel that the town is experiencing long-term reputational damage due to its association with sewage pollution - a reputation that could take years to shake."