South West Water have confirmed that Lyme Regis will benefit from significant upgrades to its drainage and storage systems, as part of its £760 million Turning the Tide programme.
The works are designed to cut sewage discharges into the River Lim and Lyme Bay, improving water quality in both the river and the sea.
The news has been welcomed by River Lim Action, which has been campaigning for urgent improvements.
Vicki Elcoate of the River Lim Action group said; "We urgently need more storage so that rainfall is slowed down when it enters the system, and better separation of rain water and sewage,"
"There were over 800 hours of permitted sewage discharges into the river last year. We're pleased that investment is being made to reduce this, but disappointed that no date has yet been given for the essential upgrade to Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works."
The mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Philip Evans MBE welcomes this investment in the town.
What will the works involve?
South West Water will begin initial investigations this Autumn, with major work starting in November 2025. The project includes:
- Surface water separation: new drainage trenches and pipes will be laid in key areas of Lyme Regis, including Colway Lane, Somers Road, Clappentail Lane, Sidmouth Road, West Hill Road, and Haye Close. This will help stop rainwater from overwhelming the sewer system.
- Storm tank storage: five new storm tanks will be built at Cobb Gate, Gosling Bridge, Jericho, Horn Bridge and Mill Lane. These tanks will store excess rainwater before it is treated, reducing the need for storm overflows.
The full schedule is expected to run until March 2027, with further upgrades to Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works still awaiting confirmation.
The programme of works is as follows:
Short-term disruption, long-term benefits
South West Water has acknowledged that the works will cause some traffic disruption while trenches are dug and new infrastructure is installed. However, campaigners and the council stress that the long-term gains will be worth it.
"This is about cleaner water in the River Lim, protecting our bathing beaches, and safeguarding the environment for future generations," said Ms Elcoate.
"We also want to see urgent action on leaks, misconnections and broken pipes, which are still contributing to high bacteria levels."
A step towards cleaner seas
The project forms part of South West Water's wider commitment to reduce reliance on storm overflows across the region. Storm overflows act as "safety valves" when the sewer system is overwhelmed by heavy rain, preventing sewage from backing up into homes, but at the cost of discharging into rivers and the sea.
By increasing storage capacity and separating rainwater from sewage, the Lyme Regis scheme aims to ensure more wastewater can be captured and treated properly, rather than being released into the environment.