Nicky Nicholls at Sideshore is spearheading a campaign with other businesses in taking legal action against South West Water. 

She says the businesses and residents of Exmouth can no longer stand by and let South West Water continue to pollute the bathing water.

Other businesses joined in the campaign include The Beach Shop, The Harbour View Cafe and '15 other businesses' in the town.

The legal case is being pursued by lawyers and will be presented to South West Water soon. The case relates to sewage discharge being pumped out to sea by South West Water in bad weather and two incidents of burst sewage pipes, first in Phear Park pumping station last year, and the ongoing sewage pipe leak at Maer Lane pumping station, which broke in July.

The beach had to be closed several times after the Maer Lane leak at the height of tourist season. 

The pressure group End Sewage Convoys and Poollution Exmouth (ESCAPE) also presented a petition to Parliament on Tuesday (September 10) calling for an end to pollution and sewage discharge from storm overflow pipes, especially in Exmouth, but across East Devon and the UK by water companies.

Nicky Nicholls, Community & Innovation Lead at Sideshore said: "The businesses and residents of Exmouth can no longer stand by and let South West Water continue to pollute our beautiful bathing waters.

"So many of us rely on the sea for our livelihoods, our recreation and our mental health. We have kept quiet for as long as possible to try to protect our tourist industry and have had to make personal decisions about when to swim, row, kitesurf or paddleboard following pollution alerts.

"But on the 14th August the straw broke the camel's back.

"The Maer Road rising main burst again - despite warnings from many people that it would - and once again tankers of sewage began to run through Exmouth, day and night.  This was one of 12 bursts on Exmouth rising mains in the last year or so -  but this time it was right in the middle of our tourist season.

"Exmouth became national news for all the wrong reasons and the tourists stayed away.  Businesses all across the town will tell you about the devastating hit they've taken.

"We are sad that it has come to this, but we have been left with no option. We want our beach back, we want the tourists back and we want to be able to use the asset which is the reason we choose to live in Exmouth.

"We also have great concern for the animals which live in the rockpools and waters around us. For these reasons, Sideshore is co-ordinating a group of businesses & residents to pursue legal action against South West Water.

"We will tell you more about the legal case we are pursuing over the next few days, and will invite you all to be a part of it.  In fact there will be a public meeting with our lawyers very soon which we would love you attend."

The dates for the public meeting has not been confirmed yet. Follow Sideshore on Facebook for more information.

In response, South West Water said: “We are serious about tackling storm overflows and change of this scale takes time, ambition, and increased investment. We are investing around £38 million in the Exmouth area up to 2030 which includes upgrades to our pumping stations and treatment works to significantly reduce the number of spills and further protect the environment.

"We care about our 860m of coastline, our regions 100% bathing water quality, which we have successfully maintained for 3 consecutive years and protecting the environment now and in the future.

"We will be the first water company to meet the Government target of less than 10 spills per overflow, per year – a decade ahead of target."

In February, after major pipe failures and sewage overflows into the sea prompted a ‘vote of no confidence’ in South West Water (SWW) by East Devon District Council (EDDC).

The authority passed the motion, with 46 votes for and two abstentions, at its full council meeting yesterday (Wednesday, February 21).

EDDC voiced its grave concern with the Exmouth sewage network following a series of major pipe failures in December 2023, involving repair works and tanker movements that caused extensive disruption to residents.