Photos: Paddle Out Protest in Exmouth against sewage pollution

Swimmers, surfers, paddle boarders and canoeists marched along the seafront and then gathered in the sea off Exmouth beach with a banner reading 'Sick of Sewage'.

They are demanding that South West Water (SWW) stops regularly discharging sewage into the sea via 'storm overflows' that are meant to be used only in exceptional circumstances, when heavy rain floods the sewer network. 

The Paddle Out Protest was organised nationally by Surfers Against Sewage and was staged at several beaches across the UK.  The Exmouth event was co-ordinated by Friends of the River Exe.

It’s the first time that Exmouth has joined in with Surfers Against Sewage’s national campaign, but Friends of the River Exe (FORE) felt that this year local people wanted the opportunity to make their feelings known. Water pollution is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming general election, and this is also the year when water companies and regulators set out their investment plans for the next five years.

Mary Culhane, coordinator of FORE, said: “I live in Exmouth and swim all year round, and have recently become more aware how fed up everyone is with the pollution in the sea, so It felt really important to hold a Paddle-Out here so that local people got to have their say. We didn’t know what to expect but were totally blown away by the size and energy of the crowd who turned out despite the rain! It’s been amazing to see how many people really care, and I really hope that the message will be heard by SWW and by politicians so that meaningful change happens.“

Local sea swimmer Jo Bateman, who’s taking SWW to the small claims court over the pollution of bathing water, was one of the speakers at the event. She was also impressed by the large turnout.

Jo said: “In pouring rain, several hundred people of all ages came out to protest about SWW and its treatment of our seas and rivers; a phenomenal demonstration of our level of disgust and frustration felt by the local community. The message was loud and clear: “SWW, cut the c**p!”

Another of the speakers was Anne-Marie Culhane from the Community Interest Company (CIC) Tidelines. She said: “Water and oceans feed, nourish, sustain and incubate all life including the incredible wildlife ecosystem that we have here in the Exe estuary and which has international protected status. Pollution and sewage put all of this at risk, and with lack of clarity on reporting and monitoring of the impacts, we still don’t fully know the extent of this damage on marine and estuary life.”

The gathering before the march and the protest in the sea was hosted by Sideshore. Nicky Nicholls from the company said: “It was such a thrill to see hundreds of people descending on Sideshore to add their voices to so many others all around the country. For the sake of us and for the wildlife we share the ocean with, we need change. Clean water is possible, with investment and political will. And it is clear that this is what the people of Exmouth want.”