Paddle Out Protest: Time to End the Sewage Crisis

Last Saturday, I joined the Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out Protest in Newbury. Organised with Eco Friends, the event brought together residents and activists from across West Berkshire to demand an end to the sewage scandal.  

The message was clear: the people of Newbury and West Berkshire have had enough of water companies being allowed to poison our waterways, damage our fragile ecosystems, and threaten our health. 

The impact is particularly worrying here in West Berkshire because of the pressure on our precious chalk streams - incredibly rare aquatic habitats known for its crystal-clear mineral water and uniquely high biodiversity. Data released from 2024 showed that our rivers and streams endured over 8,900 hours of sewage discharges, with the River Pang suffering the highest number of illegal spills of all chalk streams analysed.  

The River Lambourn and River Kennet, which are also chalk streams, also experienced repeated discharges. And despite repeated calls from organisations like Eco Friends and Surfers Against Sewage, residents and MPs, these spills are ongoing.  

Years of uninterrupted raw sewage dumping is already taking its toll on these precious natural resources. According to the most recent Environment Agency surface‑water classification data, just 14% of rivers and lakes are in good ecological condition. This means the vast majority of waterways fail basic ecological health tests. Likewise, 12 out of the 14 inland river bathing sites the EA tested were revealed to have unacceptable levels of bacteria from human and animal waste.  

That is why communities across West Berkshire are speaking out, demanding that water companies stop treating our rivers as open sewers and that regulators enforce the laws designed to protect them.  

The Paddle Out Protest was a reminder that unless urgent action is taken to end routine sewage dumping, the rivers that define our landscape, provide our drinking water and fuel our economy will continue to suffer. 

Enough is enough. It’s time to restore our rivers and hold polluters to account. 

Photo credit: Kevin Sheldrake, Newbury Photography Club and Phil Cannings, Newbury Weekly News