Tens of thousands in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas face a fourth day without water, with residents and officials demanding the resignation of South East Water’s CEO amid ongoing disruptions.
Calls for Resignation of South East Water CEO David Hinton Grow
Calls for the resignation of South East Water chief executive David Hinton have intensified as tens of thousands of homes in Kent and Sussex face a fourth day without water. There is no clear end to the crisis.
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to deploy the army, and an investigation has been initiated. This failure follows another outage two weeks ago that affected 24,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells.
Many residents are experiencing further disruption, which may not be resolved until “at least the weekend,” according to The Independent.
Water Distribution Efforts
South East Water has established water distribution sites. Staff reported that around 1,000 cars per hour are arriving to collect bottled water.
Mike Martin, the LibDem MP for Tunbridge Wells, has previously called for Mr. Hinton’s resignation. He stated that the government “needs to grow a pair, and call for him to go” as well.
Local Leaders Demand Action
These calls have been supported by Linden Kemkaran, the leader of Kent County Council and a member of Reform UK. She has written to the board of South East Water, urging for Mr. Hinton’s dismissal.
Mr. Martin expressed his frustration, saying, “I’m absolutely livid, along with all my constituents. We had two weeks without drinking water in December, and now we’ve got it again.”
He criticized the company for poor communication and crisis management, calling it a “shambles.”
Government Accountability and Infrastructure Issues
Mr. Martin has also contacted NatWest, which owns 25% of South East Water, to question if they find the situation acceptable. He believes Mr. Hinton needs to be removed due to “groupthink” within the company.
He warned that water service will be intermittent until at least this weekend, advising residents to disregard South East Water’s statements.
On Tuesday, the Parliamentary Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee recalled Mr. Hinton after the committee chairman, Alistair Carmichael, expressed skepticism about the company’s explanations.
Impact on Local Communities
Ms. Kemkaran described the local situation as “really bad,” affecting not just households but also agriculture. She noted that farmers are struggling, with one dairy farmer unable to clean milking equipment, leading to wasted milk.
She added that businesses like hair salons and restaurants have had to close due to the lack of water. She criticized South East Water for not investing in infrastructure and stated that Mr. Hinton’s position is “untenable.”
Public Frustration and Calls for Change
Residents in Tunbridge Wells are frustrated with South East Water’s response. Chrissie Bayley, who runs a beauty salon, mentioned that the previous outage forced her to cancel clients.
John Oliver, a local resident, expressed that the current outage is more frustrating than the last, stating, “Everything is intermittent.”
David Ayre, another resident, criticized Mr. Hinton’s salary of £500,000 a year, saying he should be held accountable.
Niamh Taylor noted that the community is considering legal action against South East Water.
Conclusion
The Independent has reached out to South East Water for further comments.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Current Water Outage | Ongoing (4th day) | Tens of thousands of homes in Kent and Sussex without water. |
| Previous Outage | Two weeks ago | Affected 24,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells. |
| Water Distribution | Current | 1,000 cars per hour collecting bottled water. |
| Government Inquiry | Tuesday | Parliamentary committee recalled Mr. Hinton. |
