South West Water has appointed Nick Buckland as the independent chair of its new Customer Challenge Group.

The organisation was set up to help and challenge the water company during the three year development of its business plan from 2020-25.

Buckland, based in Cornwall, has experience of being a chair and non-executive director in the public, private and voluntary sectors, after a successful career in industry.

He is chair of governors at University Technical College Plymouth, former chair of governors at Plymouth University and a member of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

Commenting on his appointment, Buckland said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to this important role and look forward to representing the interests of South West Water and Bournemouth Water customers.”

Meanwhile, South West Water Managing Director, Stephen Bird, said that they are making strong progress in delivering their current business plan which received a gold star rating from industry regulator Ofwat.

Bird continued: “We were particularly commended for the quality of our customer and stakeholder engagement. As we start to prepare a new business plan, we look forward to working with Nick and his fellow Customer Challenge Group members to ensure that the needs and wants of our customers continue to be at the core of our plans to 2025 and beyond.”

The Customer Challenge Group will help to make sure that throughout the development of the business plans, customer views and priorities will be adequately addressed and activities and outcomes are social, environmentally and economically sustainable.

Earlier in the year, South West Water merged with Bournemouth Water and now the new five year business plan will cover both service areas.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for South West Water has apologised to customers affected by the sewer flooding in Salcombe earlier this month, and said this was ‘caused by blockages in the pipe’.