Over recent weeks, many residents across Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have been affected by the loss of the containers from the vessel Baltic Klipper, and the debris that has been washing up along our shores. Like many of you, I have been shocked by the scale of what has happened, and concerned by the questions it has raised about safety, environmental impact, and accountability.
I want to begin by saying thank you. I have been out on the beaches myself and have seen first-hand the extraordinary efforts being made by local residents, volunteers, community groups, and charities to help clear up what has come ashore. People have given their time, energy, and care without hesitation, and that community spirit has been remarkable. It is important that this work is recognised, supported, and not taken for granted.
Alongside those efforts on the ground, my role as your MP is to make sure the right questions are being asked, that clear answers are being provided, and that responsibility sits where it belongs. This is not a local litter problem. It is a commercial maritime incident, and it must be treated as such. That means ensuring public safety, properly managing the clean-up, protecting wildlife and the marine environment, and making sure that local residents and taxpayers are not left footing the bill.
I have already written to the relevant councils, national agencies, and the Government, and you can find copies of those letters here:
- Letters to Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, and West Sussex County Council
- Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Letter to the Environment Agency
- Letter to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
I am also tabling Parliamentary Questions in Westminster in order to press for transparency, proper oversight, and full cost recovery from those responsible.
I will keep residents updated as further information becomes available, and will update this page as and when I receive responses from the various authorities I have written to on your behalf.
If you have additional questions or concerns you would like me to raise, please do continue to get in touch.