Home / News / Sewage Pollution - Restrictions LIfted - Beach OPEN

Sewage Pollution - Restrictions LIfted - Beach OPEN

Published 20:43 on 9 Jul 2025

Councillor Pal Hayre reported:

Yesterday evening the sewage pipe on Crofton Lane burst again leaking sewage. As a result, the Environment Agency has issued a warning advising swimmers not to enter the water at Hill Head and Lee-on-the-Solent due to a potential environmental impact. Some flow has discharged into the surface water system via the Crofton Lane outfall. Southern Water are working closely with the Environment Agency and carrying out environmental assessments. Tankers have been deployed to manage flows and help prevent flooding, and I believe their team was out speaking to residents although not all residents who are impacted were informed. Excavation work began this morning to investigate the issue and determine the right repair approach. This means part of Crofton Lane will stay closed, and traffic management will be in place for your safety. You can continue using your water and wastewater facilities as normal they work. Fed up with Southern Water? You're not alone. Many of us are frustrated with the ongoing issues, it's clear the old pipes need replacing. Southern Water has been working for months on the pumping station, upgrading pumps that seem far too powerful for the aging pipework, which is now showing its weakness. I spoke with a contractor on site who said they're still figuring out the best way to repair the pipe, possibly by lining it. I made it clear to him that this isn't good enough. Southern Water needs to stop patching up problems and start investing in properly renewing the outdated system. That's the only way to prevent these recurring incidents, which not only inconvenience residents but also put swimmers and water users at risk.