AN IRON Acton man travelled to Madagascar to help some of the country’s poorest communities receive access to water and sanitation.

Ashley Mee is the head of purchasing for the water supplier and sewerage business Wessex Water. Last year the company helped to raise donations of £182,299 for the charity WaterAid’s safe water and sanitation projects.

He went to Vakinankaratra, which is the second most populous region of Madagascar but has one of the poorest rates of access to these services in the country.

“It’s so easy to take water for granted as we have it at the turn of a tap, but this trip really reminded me just what a valuable and life-saving resource water is,” said Ashley.

Ashley went to the island with a team of seven others, to visit communities where WaterAid offer help.

They witnessed the devastating impact that a lack of safe water and sanitation has on a people’s health, education and livelihoods.

When visiting he helped the group to transport vital building materials to villages and built a new tap stand that will provide a lasting supply of clean, safe water for generations to come.

Ashley said: “The trip has been a humbling experience and a great opportunity to witness first-hand the fantastic support WaterAid provides and how donations are used.

“The community of Iron Acton has also been helping support the charity with the church harvest festival auction raising more than £500 and donations to WaterAid in lieu of presents for my 60th birthday.”

During the last 26 years Wessex Water have has helped raise more than £15 million for safe water and sanitation projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.