Councillor Raises Concerns Over Southern Water’s Sandown Recycling Plans

Southern Water project managers were “intransigent” and had already “made up their mind” about plans for a Water Recycling Plant in Sandown, according to a local Isle of Wight councillor.

Planning committee member and Sandown ward councillor Cllr Debbie Andre made the comments while addressing Sandown Town Council on Monday evening (26 January), saying she remains unconvinced the proposals are the best option for the town.

The application includes the construction of a Water Recycling Plant on land south of the existing Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works, alongside a new outfall into the Eastern Yar and a pipeline connecting the facility to the river near Alverstone.

The plans have attracted significant opposition from residents, campaigners and a number of organisations, including the Solent Protection Society, Save Our South Coast Alliance, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Badger Trust Isle of Wight, Island Roads and Sandown Town Council.

Cllr Andre told the meeting she had requested an online meeting with Southern Water’s national project managers but felt their position was already fixed.

“It was very clear they were intransigent – they had made up their mind,” she said.

“This is the way they are going to do it, and they are on a tight timeline.

“It will come to the planning committee because it involves Isle of Wight Council land, but I won’t be sitting on the committee as I will be speaking as the ward member.”

She also raised concerns that the proposed site could affect plans for the International School of Rewilding, a 140-hectare proposal featuring rewilded wetlands, elk and visitor facilities near Sandown.

Cllr Andre, who previously objected to the application, has criticised what she describes as a lack of meaningful consultation with residents and neighbouring businesses, as well as the potential impact of the plant’s design on nearby green space.

Sandown South town councillor Paddy Lightfoot told the meeting the process Southern Water is proposing is not currently used in the UK, describing it as “completely untried and untested”.

Southern Water, however, has defended the scheme, saying water recycling is a “proven and safe” process that is widely used internationally.

A spokesperson for the company said the Isle of Wight Water Recycling Project forms part of a wider programme to create new drought-proof sources of water.

“These new sources will help protect Hampshire’s chalk streams, maintain supplies for our customers and provide greater resilience for the Island,” they said.

“The project will make the Isle of Wight more self-sufficient in its water supply and reduce reliance on the River Test on the mainland.”