Portsmouth News
PATIENTS ARE AT OUR HEART
Patients in Portsmouth are benefitting from a new diagnostic centre which has opened in the heart of the community. The Portsmouth Community Diagnostic Centre in Rodney Road offers a range of services, some of which have been relocated from St Mary’s...
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BOOST FOR MANOR FUTURE
One of Portsmouth’s oldest buildings is set for a major overhaul after securing more than £180,000 in government funding. The Grade II* listed Wymering Manor in Cosham, which dates back to 1581, has been awarded £180,407 from the Heritage at Risk...
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Pumpkin patch prepares for city debut
With Halloween on the horizon, a corner of Portsmouth is being transformed into a pumpkin patch as organisers get ready to welcome guests this weekend. The free Portsmouth Pumpkin Patch will open on Saturday, October 17 with thousands of pumpkins...
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CITY SCHOOL SHAKE-UP
Eight city schools could be merged, downsized, or transformed from September 2028 under major new proposals to tackle declining birth rates and falling enrolment. Portsmouth City Council is proposing the major changes to protect school budgets, as...
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Defiant in defeat
2,500 Pompey fans travel to see Blues lose south coast derby 1-0 to Saints Full story in Sport
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OUR HERO
A Royal Navy sailor has been reunited with the young cousin whose life he saved through a selfless organ donation. Leading Hand Charlie Gill, 23, stepped ashore as HMS Dragon returned to Portsmouth following a seven-month deployment to the Middle...
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‘DESPICABLE BEHAVIOUR’
Police have launched an investigation following “disgusting” verbal threats directed at RNLI and Coastguard volunteer crews during a rescue operation. The vicious slurs were broadcast over VHF channel 11 - an open radio frequency designated for...
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‘UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL’
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin has urged city leaders to unlock a string of disused Cosham buildings to tackle the local housing crisis, branding the redevelopment a “no brainer”. The Labour MP accused Portsmouth City Council of neglecting the...
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NOT AGAIN
Fury has erupted after a boat carrying 149 migrants landed in Gosport, marking the first known Channel arrival of its kind in the town - but the second in our region in a month. Last month, the RNLI brought about 120 migrants ashore in Eastney. Sunday...
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RAISE A PINT TO OUR PUBS
Portsmouth’s famous pub culture is receiving a muchneeded boost with three local boozers celebrating fresh starts across the city. The Old Oyster House in Milton opens its doors after a two-year closure, with new landlords Trina Wheeler and Tommy...
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ASYLUM HOTEL TO CLOSE
The Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea will cease housing asylum seekers by the end of December, the Home Office has confirmed. The move comes as part of the Government’s broader push to end the reliance on asylum hotels entirely. The venue, which was the...
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Picture released to find man in smash and grab
Police are hunting a man who smashed into a business and stole cash and a till. A CCTV image has been released of the incident around 11.30pm on Sunday. The man broke into the premises in South Lane, Clanfield, by smashing a window. He reportedly...
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CITY FEARS A ‘BRAIN DRAIN’
Civic council leaders have warned that lucrative pay scales approved for the new Hampshire and Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) could trigger a disastrous “brain drain” from existing local authorities. Cross-party concerns were raised over...
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DERBY POLICING TO COST £400K
The spiralling cost of policing the south-coast derby will be reduced this season - though the highprofile fixtures will still cost taxpayers a staggering £400,000. Hampshire police spent £500,000 securing the two Championship clashes between...
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Wildlife crimes ‘go unpunished’ say campaigners
“Horrific” wildlife crimes against species such as hedgehogs, badgers, seals and hen harriers are going unpunished, campaigners have warned as they called for tougher punishments and stronger resources to prosecute cases. Last year saw 2,149 reports...
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BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
The former Royal Marines Museum at Southsea has been put back up for sale, sparking sharp criticism over its deteriorating condition. The Grade II listed building on Eastney Esplanade was bought for £4.5m in 2020 by Grand Hotel...
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THE MAGIC MILLION
Victorious Festival has hit an extraordinary landmark, passing £1m in total charitable donations since it began in 2012. This year’s contribution of more than £78,000, delivered alongside Portsmouth City Council, pushed the event past the...
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WHERE DO WE PARK?
Traders on a busy city road have voiced fierce opposition to a newly approved puffin crossing, warning that losing a 40m parking strip will devastate local businesses. Business owners on London Road, including Ian Pickup of the Washeteria and Tony...
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NO MORE
We say the decision to select Gosport as a Channel migrant landing site represented a catastrophic failure of governmental judgement. Escorted from France and intercepted off Sussex, asylum seekers were initially routed toward Fort...
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STAND DOWN
More than 100 anti-migrant protestors and dozens of police officers gathered at Haslar Marina, Gosport, where rescue boats were expected to bring about 60 migrants ashore. The small boat had left Normandy on Monday morning and was intercepted in The...
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RESERVOIR PRICE OVERFLOWS
The cost of building Havant Thicket Reservoir will more than double to £823m following major design changes and a controversial water recycling plan. Regulator Ofwat’s draft decision approves an extra £500m for the site, England’s first new reservoir...
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HOPES FOR END TO CITY EYESORE
The long-derelict Debenhams building in Portsmouth city centre is set for demolition in early 2027 to make way for a mooted 724-home redevelopment. Under plans submitted by Xanadu Ltd, the vacant department store will be replaced by three towers. The...
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MAKING MEMORIES FOR LEE
A family has been left devastated after a 38-year-old father’s treatable cancer diagnosis turned terminal. Lee Gould, a salesman and father of two, was initially told his oesophageal cancer was curable. However, following eight rounds of chemotherapy...
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HER KINDNESS WILL LIVE ON
Tributes were paid to a “kind and loving” 74-year-old grandmother whose body was found in Fratton earlier this week – as a man appeared in court accused of her murder. Scott Langley, 48, of St Pauls Road in Southsea, appeared in court yesterday...
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FOOD & DRINK Popular eatery given a new hygiene score
A popular Southsea Indian restaurant has been issued with a new food hygiene score after receiving a low score in June. The Akash on Albert Road was given a top score of five after a visit by food hygiene inspectors on Tuesday, August 25. The new...
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QA MUST TACKLE ‘HABITUAL RESIDENTS’
City councillors have voiced sharp concerns over “habitual residents” utilising Queen Alexandra Hospital’s emergency department, as chronic overcrowding and capacity issues continue to strain local healthcare services. A recent trust report revealed...
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FACE OFF
Opposing protestors faced off across Guildhall Square following a tense march through Portsmouth. Anti-migrant demonstrators and Stand Up To Racism campaigners took to the streets after 140 migrants were brought ashore at Eastney beach the previous...
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WHO CONTROLS OUR WATER?
Plans that could strip Portsmouth Water of control of the new Havant Thicket Reservoir have sparked serious concerns. Under proposals submitted by Southern Water, Portsmouth Water’s access would be capped with no guaranteed minimum, despite it owning...
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SAVING MY LIFE IS HIS LEGACY
“I have absolutely no doubt that Alan Knight saved my life.” Those are the words of Pompey’s Mark Kelly, speaking to in his first interview about his cancer diagnosis, following the death of his friend and former teammate. Just a month before Knight...
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‘I FEEL LET DOWN FOR OUR CHILDREN’
The Royal Navy failed to safeguard a “real-life hero” who took his own life using a warship assault rifle, his former wife has claimed. Petty Officer Jon Errington Paxton, 38, died aboard minehunter HMS Cattistock at Portsmouth Naval Base in April...
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‘TITANIC WASTE OF MONEY’
Portsmouth’s Liberal Democrats are claiming victory after the Government put controversial plans to merge Hampshire councils into a new “super council” on pause. Council leader, Cllr Steve Pitt declared the city had been saved from “disaster”...
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‘WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS’
Portsmouth City Council leader Cllr Steve Pitt has slammed the government for “poor judgement” after around 140 migrants were brought ashore at Eastney beach following a rare small boat arrival in Hampshire. The landing sparked chaos as riot police...
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FOR KNIGHTSIE
Supporters at Fratton Park paid an emotional tribute to legendary goalkeeper Alan Knight ahead of kick-off against Cardiff, following his death after a battle with prostate cancer. Knight’s family and Pompey’s chief executive laid wreaths on a pitch...
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HUNDRE-DS HOSPITALISED
Queen Alexandra Hospital has treated at least 524 e-scooter injuries over the past five years, prompting urgent calls for government action before another life is lost. Data obtained via Freedom of Information requests shows Emergency Department...
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BACK IN THE FAST LANE
The upgraded £100m M27 Junction 10 will open to traffic in just over a week – ahead of schedule. The first parts of the new-look ‘all moves’ junction will open on September 14. Once fully open, the upgraded junction will provide full access to and...
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BUST THEATRE OWED MILLIONS
A theatre owes a staggering £8.6m in debt following its sudden collapse into administration, official documents reveal. Titchfield Festival Theatre, which plunged into administration on May 8, owes £8.24m to HMRC alongside £368,931 to unsecured...
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PM must award Skynet to city
The News today calls on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to back up his words with action – by awarding a multi-billion pound defence contract to workers in Portsmouth. Skynet is Britain’s most secure military communications system, which 17 Nato allies...
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Navy warship makes historic Asian visit to ‘showcase what UK can offer’
A Royal Navy warship has made a historic visit to Cambodia as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries. HMS Tamar spent a week in the port city of Sihanoukville, becoming the third Royal Navy warship to visit Cambodia in three...
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‘IT’S PUT US ON THE MAP’
Portsmouth International Port bid a celebration-filled farewell to Virgin Voyages as Valiant Lady set sail - with no return date scheduled. The five-year partnership has put Portsmouth on the global cruise map, attracting 72,000 passengers and...
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ACCUSED WON’T TAKE THE STAND
The pensioner accused of killing his nephew has refused to give evidence at his murder trial. Alan Wotton, 83 of Exmouth Road, Gosport, faces one count of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. He denies the charges, saying he acted in...
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‘I’M COLLECTING FAMILIES’
A woman who was taken into care as a toddler has spoken of how fostering shaped her life to support a campaign tackling a national shortage of carers. Catherine Burland, 37, was removed from her mother’s care aged three before living in five...
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‘THERE WERE ENDLESS FAILINGS’
A grieving daughter has laid bare the “absolute hell” of her mother’s final months following severe, repeated care failures. Addressing an extraordinary Portsmouth City Council meeting, Justine Morrison detailed the horrific treatment experienced by...
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‘Life will never be the same without him’
Emotional tributes have been paid to a University of Portsmouth student who died after purchasing poison online from an overseas criminal. Joshua Warner, 21, died at his halls of residence after buying substances from Canadian Kenneth Law. A...
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WE’LL TAKE IT ON THE CHIN FOR FIN
A joke over a few drinks in a Havant pub for friends to fight in a fundraising boxing match has left both punters with the Eye of the Tiger as they prepare to go into battle for a “lovely little boy”. Prince of Wales pub drinker Patrick Brain is...
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HE WAS OUR ABSOLUTE WORLD
The family of a teenager who died after a bus crash have paid tribute to him, saying: “He was our absolute world.” Beau Croucher, 14, from Portsmouth, was taken to hospital after the crash on The Hard on Monday but died from his injuries. Beau’s...
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WHAT A RESULT!
Teenagers from across the Portsmouth area saw months of hard work pay off after picking up their GCSE results. And for some, the challenge to achieve was even greater than for most. Jagoda Kurakowska fainted just minutes before her computer science...
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NEW CHAPTER IN MARINES’ HISTORY
An opening date has been revealed for the new £15m Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Billed as ‘a museum you can step into, not simply look at’, the centre will open in October. It will combine storytelling with hands-on...
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‘YOU’RE NOT MAN ENOUGH’
A “confrontational” pensioner told police that his nephew “wasn’t man enough” after overpowering him with a knife. Alan Wotton, 83, of Exmouth Road, Gosport, is accused of killing Andrew Avery, 65. He faces one count of murder and an alternative count...
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HOMES DECISION ‘BEGGARS BELIEF’
Campaigners fighting plans to build 300 new homes at Rook Farm say the decision to give it the go-ahead “beggars belief ”. Hayling Island Residents’ Association put forward its case at a four-day planning inquiry after Havant Borough Council chose not...
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BRAVE DAD’S DYING WISH
A Waterlooville father and stepfather died from multi-organ failure just hours after bravely fulfilling his final wish to marry his partner. Portchester-born Jay Davis, 34, married Becca at his bedside at Queen Alexandra Hospital just a day before his...
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SHINING ALL OVER
Portsmouth is set to light up this autumn as the free We Shine Community light festival returns from November 19 to 21. Reimagined for 2026 as Portsmouth celebrates its centenary as a city, four local creative organisations have teamed up to deliver...
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THEY WANT ME TO DIE
A terminally ill Royal Navy veteran is still waiting for his pension – despite being given less than a year to live. Andrew Rossiter, 62, who served in the Falklands War, is desperate to access the fund of more than £104,000. He accused EQ Retirement...
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IT’S REALLY EXHAUSTING
A campaign has been launched by Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, urging the government to introduce a strict legal decibel limit on vehicle exhausts. The move comes as residents across the county report sleepless nights caused...
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‘IT HAS SHATTERED MY WORLD’
A 34-year-old woman has launched an urgent fundraising appeal for life-changing medical treatment in Mexico following a devastating health diagnosis. Billie Shuter, who had no prior health warnings, was left terrified after being diagnosed with highly...
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FOSTERING FOR THEIR FUTURE
Today we launch a new campaign, Fostering a Better Future, to help tackle a concerning national decline in foster carers. With foster households dropping 10 per cent nationwide since 2021 due to cost-of-living pressures and burnout, around 400...
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Wildlifeconcerns, centenary and e-scooter trials
A range of issues, primarily focused on paying attention to wildlife when operating motor vehicles, celebrating Portsmouth’s centenary, and the government’s current stance on e-scooter trials appear on today's letters page. The first letter condemns...
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PIER PRESSURE
Businesses on South Parade Pier fear they will not survive until next summer as ongoing sea defence works are drastically reducing footfall. Visitor numbers plunged by 41 per cent between March and June following promenade closures for the Southsea...
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WE’RE UNITED - NOT DIVIDED
The team spearheading Portsmouth’s bid to be named the 2029 City of Culture say online race hate comments will not derail the campaign. Just days before finalising its bid, We Are Pompey had its Facebook page removed by Meta after offensive and racist...
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COST OF CENTRE GROWS BY £700K
Portsmouth City Council has been forced to plug a £700,000 budget shortfall on the new £23m Bransbury Park Leisure Centre by cancelling redundant local projects and dipping into reserve funds. Unexpected soil removal costs, ground redesigns, and...
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CARER FED WOMAN DOG FOOD
Portsmouth City Council has formally apologised after an elderly, bed-ridden resident was fed dog food by a contracted care worker. An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman detailed a catalogue of errors by provider Radis,...
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FRATTON PARK FIGHT NIGHT?
Portsmouth FC are open to bringing big-time boxing to Fratton Park after newly-crowned IBO super lightweight champion Mark Chamberlain set his sights on a dream home fight night. The Waterlooville southpaw, 27, dropped Pierce O’leary in a dramatic...
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COUNCIL WORKER STOLE £72,000
A disgraced council accountant who stole more than £72,000 of public money has avoided jail after a court heard she was coerced by offshore scammers. Amirun Begum, 49, pocketed £72,582 while working in Portsmouth City Council’s housing...
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‘SHE’S OUR GOLDEN GIRL’
Years of sacrifices, financial strain, and travelling thousands of miles have culminated in ultimate triumph for her family after Portsmouth’s Jade Atkin secured a Commonwealth gold medal for England. Jade, alongside her 3x3 wheelchair basketball...
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‘PRISONERS IN OUR HOMES’
People living near Haslar Immigration Removal Centre say they have become “prisoners in their own homes” amid controversial plans to expand the site. The Home Office wants to increase capacity to 600 detainees at the centre, which is just yards from...
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‘LIVES ARE BEING PUT AT RISK’
City leaders have warned it is “only a matter of time” before tragedy strikes, calling for urgent national legislation to tackle illegal e-scooters and e-bikes. Safety fears are mounting after national data revealed 1,484 casualties from collisions...
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END FOR HIGH RISES
Plans are being considered to rehouse more than 500 households and retire four ageing council tower blocks in the heart of Portsmouth by 2030. The proposal affects Tipton, Edgbaston, Barkis, and Nickleby Houses in Somers Town and Buckland, comprising...
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WE STAND TOGETHER
Newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aboard the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth, marking the PM’S first foreign leader visit. The pair met more than 200 British and Ukrainian personnel...
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WE ARE SAILING
Sunshine and high-stakes sailing drew more than 20,000 spectators to Southsea and Gunwharf Quays for an extraordinary weekend of maritime sport. Fans packed the stands, waving Union flags as Britain’s Emirates Team GBR showcased Olympic talent on a...
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Microplastics carry ‘memory’ of movement
Research found the earlier motion of larger microplastic particles influences where they travel. Microplastics which float through the oceans have a “memory” of their previous movements which influences the way they travel, research has found. A...
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I GOT 99 PROBLEMS...
A seafront chippy has been ordered to stop selling ice cream by the council. But the owner says it will “hurt the business” after spending £14,000 ice cream machine. Now he is looking into taking legal action so he can keep selling ices. Portsmouth...
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IT’S LONG OVERDUE
Emotional Falklands War veterans gathered for a poignant service honouring three fallen comrades whose names have finally been added to their borough’s war memorial. Anthony Charles Eggington and Richard Charles Emly, who both died aboard HMS...
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‘WE ARE WATCHING YOU’
Portsmouth City Council has launched a fresh investigation into sewage pollution and water quality, placing Southern Water under renewed scrutiny over its environmental record. The review, led by the council’s traffic, environment, and community...
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