THE local MP helped lead a large-scale community beach clean at Seaton Beach, drawing dozens of volunteers to tackle litter and highlight ongoing concerns about water quality along Cornwall’s coastline.

More than 10kg of waste was collected during the clean-up at the popular bathing site, which has been repeatedly affected by reports of sewage pollution. The initiative led by South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd follows growing concern from local residents about the impact of sewage spills and marine litter on beaches relied upon for swimming, walking and tourism.

Speaking after the event, Ms Gelderd said: “Our beaches should be clean, safe and somewhere that people can enjoy with confidence. Residents have been raising serious concerns with me about sewage spills and litter here, and I share their concerns.

“This was a brilliant community effort and I’m glad to have brought people together. Dozens of people gave up their time on a weekend to help protect a place they care about. I will continue to hold water companies to account until we see real improvements.”

The beach clean forms part of Ms Gelderd’s wider campaign to improve water quality across South East Cornwall, combining hands-on community action with increased pressure on water providers and regulators. Campaigners say the situation at Seaton reflects broader environmental challenges facing coastal areas across the region.

Ms Gelderd has been a vocal critic of South West Water, previously challenging the company over transparency and service delivery, including directly confronting its former chief executive. With a new CEO now in post, she has renewed her request for a meeting, calling for urgent action and a renewed focus on public interest.

Further environmental work is planned in the coming months, as efforts continue to ensure coastal communities are no longer left dealing with the consequences of failing infrastructure and ongoing pollution issues.