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Watchdog quits Environment Agency to join water firm embroiled in crime probe

A senior Environment Agency executive has quit to join a water firm under criminal investigation, it was revealed yesterday.

Dr Toby Willison, former executive director of operations at the public body, has accepted a role at Southern Water.

The EA has been investigating the company over serious failures in the operation of its sewage treatment sites.

Last year it was forced to pay out a £126million penalty package after the Water Services Regulation Authority, known as Ofwat, discovered it had deliberately misreported data about the performance of its waste water treatment works, which led to premature spills of untreated waste.

Dr Toby Willison, former executive director of operations at the public body, has accepted a role at Southern Water

Dr Toby Willison, former executive director of operations at the public body, has accepted a role at Southern Water

The regulator found employees at the company would routinely drive tanker-loads of sewage from one waste treatment plant to another to dodge water-quality inspections by Environment Agency officials.

Earlier this year, Southern Water pleaded guilty to 51 charges brought by the agency after a criminal inquiry that ran alongside the Ofwat investigations. Sentencing in the criminal case is due in February.

Campaigners are furious that EA’s director of operations is moving to Southern Water.

Stuart Singleton-White, head of campaigns at the Angling Trust, said the agency is ‘too slow, too often’ to act and hold water companies to account. ‘The investigation into the criminal actions by Southern Water drags on,’ he added.

The EA has been investigating Southern Water over serious failures in the operation of its sewage treatment sites (file photo)

The EA has been investigating Southern Water over serious failures in the operation of its sewage treatment sites (file photo)

Last year Southern Water was forced to pay out a £126million penalty package after the Water Services Regulation Authority, known as Ofwat, discovered it had deliberately misreported data about the performance of its waste water treatment works, which led to premature spills of untreated waste (file photo)

Last year Southern Water was forced to pay out a £126million penalty package after the Water Services Regulation Authority, known as Ofwat, discovered it had deliberately misreported data about the performance of its waste water treatment works, which led to premature spills of untreated waste (file photo)

‘By jumping ship from the EA to Southern Water Dr Willison is shining a light on the cosy relationship between these companies and those who are supposed to be regulating them.

‘I can only hope he has more impact inside the company and demands his new employer does more to clean up its act and protect our precious rivers and chalk streams.’

The Environment Agency confirmed Dr Willison is leaving at the end of November to take up the Southern role. A spokesman said ‘clear rules around conflicts of interest’ were put into place as soon as he decided to take up the new job, and that he has stepped out of all relevant water company discussions and decisions.

Southern Water said they have hired Dr Willison as environment director.

‘Southern Water has already put in place major measures and investment to deal with our historic issues,’ a spokesman said.

‘The appointment of Dr Toby Willison will help us to drive our continued transformation. Protecting the environment is very important to us and our customers, and we will greatly benefit from Dr Willison’s expertise.’

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