Opinion: The ‘sewage scandal’ is NOT what is happening in North Devon

Last week, I spoke in the King’s Speech Debate on sustained economic growth across the country proudly highlighted the vital role that the tourism and hospitality sector play to our economy in North Devon.

Ahead of the debate, I had the chance to meet with the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, to talk about the significant role that hospitality plays to the local economy in North Devon, contributing £229million to the economy and employing 8,195 people.

This April I welcomed Kate to North Devon to better understand the challenges facing the sector and how we can continue to ensure that our economy thrives.

This is why I have written to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement to keep business rate discounts.

Without these discounts we risk hospitality businesses permanently closing their doors this winter.

However, whilst I have been doing all I can to boost tourism in North Devon and celebrating what we have achieved so far, the same cannot be said about the local opposition.

They frequently come out with headlines that talk down North Devon’s beaches and our water quality which have unintended consequences on our local businesses.

Speaking to beach managers, and surf schools, far too many people now visiting our beautiful beaches are fearful of the sea, despite eight of the 11 bathing beaches in North Devon being of excellent water quality, and them being some of the cleanest beaches in the world, a phrase I know sends opposition councillors back home rushing to write to the local paper complaining about me – but it’s true.

The so called ‘sewage scandal’ so loved by the opposition parties is not what is happening to North Devon’s beaches.

When it rains a lot the storm overflows run – they are mostly rainwater – but less than one per cent of the water pollution in North Devon comes from human sewage and these overflows have run for more than a century – we only know about it now because they are monitored.

In North Devon, much work has been done to hold water further up the catchment to reduce the impact of heavy rains, as well as installing extra storage capacity to reduce the frequency of storm discharges – yes there is more to do – but it is vital to those businesses along the coast, and everyone who wants to enjoy our stunning beaches to recognise that North Devon’s beaches have already undergone huge improvements and the water quality is significantly better than it was 20 years ago.

Indeed even Surfers’ Against Sewage, whose app generates more content in my inbox than anything else, conceded in writing to me this month, “with regards to the beaches in your constituency, we totally agree that huge improvements have been made to water quality there.”

There will always be more to do, but I wish the opposition would not talk down North Devon.

I always enjoy welcoming businesses to Westminster and recently I welcomed Dawn from Sandy Cove Hotel to Westminster to celebrate businesswomen across the UK at Natwest’s MPHERoes event.

I very much look forward to celebrating more local businesses in North Devon as part of Small Business Saturday, on Saturday, December 2.