Southern Water's boss slammed by Environment Secretary for accepting £691,000 pay hike
Lawrence Gosden, who has run the embattled utility firm since 2022, was awarded the 'long-term incentive' scheme on top of his £687,000 salary.
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Despite only receiving half the bumper bonus so far, Mr Gosden's total earnings have soared past the £1million mark.
Steve Reed said the that the payout was 'not deserved' and 'sends the wrong message' as customer trust plummets.
He said: 'Trust is at rock bottom.
' Southern Water hasn't performed well enough for that kind of pay.
'He should give it up.'
The backlash comes just weeks after Southern Water was banned from paying bonuses following a sewage spill in the New Forest, an environmental breach known as a category one incident.
Under new government rules, firms that pollute or fail to meet standards can't dish out bonuses.
But Southern Water has insisted Mr Gosden's payout isn't a 'bonus' but part of a performance-linked scheme launched in 2023.
Doubling Compensation for Water Issues: Government's Big Move
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