Seaside sewage spills send tourists packing
SEVEN in 10 coastal areas have reported a drop in tourism due to fears about dirty sea water.
Holidaymakers are concerned about sewage spills, farming runoffs and waste, the Local Government Association said.
Almost 90% of the councils it surveyed felt the Environment Agency should do more testing.
Many coastal areas rely on clean water for their economies to thrive through tourism and activities like fishing and surfing.
Urgent
Councillor Sandra Squire, of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council, said: “This report highlights that poor bathing water quality affects councils around the country and shows how it is now critical that water pollution is taken seriously as a national problem.”
She called for measures to improve coastal water to be made an “urgent priority”.
South Tyneside councillor Ernest Gibson echoed her views and said: “Councils want to see declining water quality being tackled collaboratively so that a solution can be agreed and progressed, and for an independent review of water companies to be delivered.” Bodies of water popular for swimming or paddling can be given Designated Bathing Water Status. The Environment Agency classifies such spots as excellent, good, sufficient or poor based on annual tests carried during the summer. North Devon Tory
MP Selaine Saxby said many tourist spots rely on their bathing water rating to support recreational activities.
Writing in the Daily Express today, she added: “I am pushing for improved data about water quality to ensure we all know when it is safe to swim, surf or paddle board all year round.
Water companies are permitted to discharge excess sewage into rivers and seas when heavy rain threatens to overwhelm the system.
But some have been accused of spilling sewage on dry days in breach of their permits. The Government announced this week that inspections of water companies will quadruple over the next year in a bid to crack down on pollution.
Measures include up to 500 additional Environment Agency workers to carry out inspections and enforcement.
Environment Agency chairman Alan Lovell said: “Proposals to get extra boots on the ground to increase inspection visits will help further strengthen our regulation of the industry.”