Alison calls for urgent meeting on water situation in Mid Sussex

11 Dec 2025

Following reports in the media that South East Water may be preparing to lay an emergency pipeline to pump water into Ardingly Reservoir, Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, has called for an emergency meeting with officials to discuss how this might affect residents in Haywards Heath and the surrounding villages.

This pipeline, which is expected to be around 13km long, is proposed to stretch across private land, roads and rail lines, as well as sensitive natural areas like the Ashdown Forest. There has been no consultation with Ms Bennett as the local MP, nor has she received a briefing so that she could keep constituents informed.

Given the recent water crisis in Tunbridge Wells seen at the beginning of December, Alison Bennett and her constituents remain concerned that this could be replicated in Mid Sussex, as Ardingly Reservoir water levels are at 44% capacity, compared to 100% this time last year. With 228,000 residents, businesses and care homes across the constituency relying on this reservoir, the situation can no longer be ignored.

Therefore, Alison has written to South East Water to request an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive, as well as reassurances for Mid Sussex. This includes clear published forecasts of supply risks, the status and timelines for the proposed pipeline and protection for local residents.

Reflecting on the recent events in other parts of the region, Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, said:

“Hotter, drier summers driven by climate change, combined with ongoing housing pressures, are pushing demand higher every year,”

“Yet South East Water has failed to invest in the infrastructure needed to cope. This is exactly the sort of emergency we saw in Tunbridge Wells, and it could happen here next.”

Residents of Mid Sussex have already seen their water bills increase by 20% this year by South East Water and are now being asked to tolerate the possibility of years of construction. Bosses have been seen to be prioritising shareholders over necessary investment in infrastructure improvement, and this proposed resolution comes with no assurance that this issue will be resolved this winter. Understandably, many residents remain anxious that Mid Sussex could face a water crisis like the Tunbridge Wells outage.

In Parliament, Alison called for the Chief Executive of South East Water to resign, stating that leadership failures have undermined public confidence and left Mid Sussex exposed.

Following her speech, Alison explained:

“Residents are paying more while receiving less.”

“We cannot allow our area to sleepwalk into the next water crisis. South East Water must take responsibility and act now.”

Alison’s letter to the Chief Executive of South East Water is available to view below:

Dear David, I am writing to request an urgent meeting with you concerning the troubling situation around the levels in Ardingly Reservoir and water supply in Sussex. Over the past few days, reports have emerged, including in The Times, that South East Water may be preparing to lay an emergency pipeline to pump water into Ardingly Reservoir because levels have fallen dangerously low. You will recall that I requested a meeting with you in October about critical water shortages and you arranged for me to meet your colleagues. In the meeting, they briefly mentioned this proposal as a way of improving resilience in the area. Despite the potential implications for thousands of households in Haywards Heath and the surrounding villages, and the discussion in the press in recent days, South East Water has not provided me with a specific briefing as the local MP about the progress of this plan. Given the recent experience of residents in Tunbridge Wells, it is essential that my Mid Sussex residents receive clear and open communication from South East Water. I have been checking the reservoir levels weekly since I met with the team and, as you know, although they are recovering, they are nowhere near full capacity. I therefore am requesting an urgent meeting with you to seek clear answers on the following: - Current reservoir levels and water-supply forecasts - The status and timelines for the proposed emergency pipelines - What contingency plans are in place for 2026 if levels do not recover fully this winter - How vulnerable residents, care homes, schools and local businesses would be supported Therefore, please can you let me know when you would be available to meet with me to discuss the current situation in Mid Sussex? We both know that water is a basic essential and, after recent events in other parts of your region, my constituents and I need to have full confidence that your plans are robust, timely and transparent. Yours sincerely, Alison Bennett MP Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex

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