Thousands in Tunbridge Wells Face Renewed water Crisis, prompting PMQs Challenge
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, UK – Approximately 24,000 homes in and around Royal Tunbridge Wells remain without consistent water supply as of Wednesday, marking the second major disruption in three years caused by South East Water. The ongoing crisis has prompted a public health concern,forcing school and GP closures,and leaving residents reliant on emergency bottled water provisions. The situation escalated during Prime MinisterS Questions (PMQs) today, where Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey directly challenged Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the government’s response.
The water outage, initially expected to be resolved Monday, then Tuesday, and again Wednesday, has left families queuing for essential supplies and businesses shuttered. The repeated failures of South East Water to maintain reliable service have fueled calls for greater government intervention and a review of infrastructure resilience in the region. This incident underscores growing anxieties about the UK’s aging water infrastructure and its vulnerability to disruptions, notably during periods of increased demand or extreme weather.
During PMQs, Sir Ed Davey highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “Yesterday, I was in Royal Tunbridge Wells, where tens of thousands of people have had no water for five days.This is now a public health emergency, and shockingly, it’s the second time in just three years when South East Water have let down the people of Tunbridge Wells badly.” He pressed the Prime minister to convene the COBRA emergency committee and “get a grip of this crisis.”
Responding, Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting South East Water’s repeated missed deadlines for restoration. “I too have heard South East Water say…Sunday into Monday, Monday into Tuesday, and Tuesday into Wednesday, that they were sorting it – and they still haven’t sorted it,” he said. “There’s really serious consequences and we are bearing down on that as he would expect because it’s such a serious issue.”
While Sir Ed Davey thanked the Prime Minister and the water minister for thier initial response, he emphasized the need for further government action given South East Water’s “failure so badly.” The situation remains fluid, with South East Water continuing to work to restore full service, but residents face ongoing uncertainty and disruption.
