Wealden District Council has urged Government ministers to take urgent action over the district’s worsening water supply problems, warning that repeated delays to major infrastructure are putting both existing residents and future housing plans at risk.
Council leaders have written to ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), calling for assurances that Wealden’s growing water supply challenges are being properly addressed.
The letter follows a series of water outages affecting customers served by South East Water across the district, with many residents left without running water during recent supply failures.
Council leaders say the incidents have highlighted concerns over whether the existing network is resilient enough to cope with demand, particularly as councils are required by Government planning policy to identify land for thousands of new homes.
A key concern raised in the letter is the continued delay to the proposed Arlington Reservoir, which has long been identified as a vital piece of infrastructure to improve water security across East Sussex.
According to the council, the expected delivery date has slipped repeatedly over the years. What was once anticipated to be completed by 2036 has since moved to a broad delivery window between 2041 and 2075, with a current target date of 2057.
Wealden District Council says it has worked with water companies and regulators for many years by introducing tougher water efficiency standards for new developments and protecting land needed for future infrastructure, including the reservoir site.
However, councillors argue that the planning system cannot continue to compensate for delays in investment by the water industry.
Instead, they are calling for housing growth targets, water company investment plans and Government regulation to be better aligned so infrastructure keeps pace with development.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Leader of Wealden District Council, said residents should not have to endure losing their water supply.
She said: “This situation highlights the need for greater investment in infrastructure and effective long-term planning by water companies.
“It’s outrageous that residents have to drive to get bottled water because there has been nothing in their taps. This is the result of a chronic lack of investment in infrastructure, and we want to see proactive steps taken to prevent similar situations affecting Wealden residents in the future.”
Councillor Ian Tysh, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Environment, added: “Water companies have a statutory duty to supply new homes, but that duty alone will not make water flow through the taps.
“These constraints must be properly addressed by water companies and government if future housing development is to be planned and delivered responsibly.”
The council says it has offered to meet with Government ministers, South East Water and industry regulators to discuss the issue and help develop a coordinated approach to securing Wealden’s future water supply.
