The company will pinpoint the specific investments planned for Sidmouth and the surrounding area as part of its latest five-year business plan, The Right Deal for Right Now. Across the region, the plan will feature £2.8 billion of investment and create more than 2,000 jobs.

The session at Kennaway House will take place from 2pm until 6pm and is being held at the invitation of Sidmouth Town Council.

Cllr Chris Lockyear, chair of the council, said: “We are pleased to welcome South West Water to Sidmouth so they can present their plans and detail how they will address any local concerns.

“We have been in conversation with South West Water about storm overflow (CSO) performance, and the impact on the town’s beaches and the River Sid. The beach is a vital amenity for the town with many locals and visitors using it all year round.

“Tourism is key to our local economy, and we are therefore pleased that South West Water has accelerated its investment to allow improvements to be made.”

The event will be held in a market-stall set-up where customers can chat with different subject experts from South West Water about their specific focus areas, such as environmental improvements, boosting water resources and supporting customers with their bills.

Laura Flowerdew, Chief Customer and Digital Officer at South West Water, said: “We are excited to be talking to the Sidmouth community in person about our plans and to listen to concerns they may have. We are working hard to make improvements across our network and are working with local communities and customers to understand their priorities. We look forward to meeting the local community and hearing their thoughts, and want to thank Sidmouth Town Council for hosting us on the day.”

South West Water said it has already earmarked £1.35 million of investment in Sidmouth up to March 2025 to help reduce the risk of environmental impact from its sewerage network, and to contribute towards maintaining Sidmouth’s excellent bathing water quality, as assessed by the Environment Agency.

The wider company plan for  2025-2030 was developed in collaboration with more than 30,000 customers and 1,000 stakeholders, and focuses on four key priorities:

• Investing in water quality and water resilience
• Tackling storm overflows and pollution
• Delivering for customers and addressing affordability
• Reaching net zero and enhancing environmental gains

The community drop-in session will take place from 2pm-6pm at Kennaway House, Sidmouth, EX10 8NG, on Wednesday 6 December, with no need for prior booking.