Warning not to visit over 30 UK beaches this weekend due to raw sewage
Brits looking to celebrate their bank holiday weekend on Britain's beaches may want to avoid some coastal areas as sewage warnings remain in place.
The state of many of Britain's beaches remains of real concern as sewage discharge floods into the country's seas.
Several of the UK's sewage systems can't cope with overflows of rainwater and are forced to pump sewage into the sea.
As Brits gear up for a well-earned Easter break some will be making use of the good weather and taking a quick trip to a nearby beach, but a map by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage reveals the areas where there is currently a pollution risk.
Private water companies in the worst-hit areas say they are working on expanding storage so that water can be treated before it is discharged.
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There is 'no way we can stop sewage pollution overnight,' the government has said (sas.org.uk)Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that sewage was discharged onto Blue Flag beaches by water companies in England 1,504 times last year.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said there is "no way we can stop sewage pollution overnight"
So where might Brits want to avoid this weekend?
Northeast
Several beached in the northeast currently have pollution risk warnings, including Spittal Beach near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The Beach Guide website says Spittal is ideal for spotting " seals bobbing up and down in the surf, or even the occasional dolphin."
Runswich Bay has a warning in place (Getty Images)Though there are nearby shops and a family fun centre, going onto the beach may not be ideal for those visiting Spittal this weekend.
Even the historic beach in Whitby, Yorkshire, currently has a pollution warning in place.
Beaches in the northeast with warnings are as follows:
- Beadnell
- Blyth South
- Tynemouth Cullercoats
- Seaham
- Seaham Hall
- Saltburn
- Runswick Bay
- Whitby
- Scarborough North Bay
- Scarbrough South Bay
- Bridlington South
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Britain’s beaches are being ruined by profiteering water companies getting away with dumping sewage as the government has failed to act for years. What is the point of an environment secretary who doesn’t care about the environment?"
East of England
Cleethorpes Beach near Grimsby in Lincolnshire currently has a warning in place.
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The pollution warning on the Surfers Against Sewage website reads: "A popular seaside resort, Cleethorpes is a slightly sloping sand beach backed by a promenade, a well-developed resort and Victorian gardens.
Cleethorpes is a popular beach, but there is a pollution warning in place (Katie Pugh)"It is located on the south side of the Humber Estuary below the Heritage Coast stretch of Spurn Bight. A number of sewer overflows discharge into the local area such as into Buck Beck and further upstream in the River Humber which meets the sea at Cleethorpes."
Heacham Beach in Norfolk also has a warning in place.
Southeast
In the southeast of England, beaches like Southend Jubilee Beach, Bexhill and Littlehampton are all flagged as pollution risks at present
Langstone Harbour also has a warning in place and in March, Havant Borough Council said a number of people said they had become ill after taking part in recreational activities near the harbour.
Water quality will be poor in some areas, though most Brits will forgo the dip in chilly seas (PA)Near Portsmouth, the council said the harbour would be monitored over 20 weeks for "public health protection"
Southern Water is responsible for discharges at Langstone and said "major improvements" were being made to its treatment works.
Beaches in southeast England with warnings are as follows:
- Southend Thorpe Bay
- Southend Three Shells
- Sheerness Canterbury
- Herne Bay Central
- St Mary's Bay
- St Leonards, Hastings
- Bexhill
- Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
- Langstone Harbour
- Ryde, Isle of Wight
- Cowes, Isle of Wight
- Gurnard, Isle of Wight
Southwest
Beaches like Combe Martin in Devon currently have pollution warnings in place
The warning reads: "Coombe Martin is a sandy beach in a sheltered valley at the western edge of Exmoor National Park. The River Umber flows through a channel at the western end of the beach.
"A sewer overflow discharges into the Umber River some 30m upstream of the beach with two more discharging further upstream. Other discharges from the surrounding urban area may also affect water quality, particularly after heavy rainfall."
The southwest has a number of warnings in place (PA)One of Britain's most famous seafronts at Weston-super-Mare has two beaches currently with pollution warnings.
- Meadfoot
- Mill Bay
- Dunster North West
- Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
Northwest
The Blackpool North Beach located right outside the town's famous tower currently has a pollution warning in place.
The warning reads: "Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
"A long, sand beach Blackpool North is opposite Blackpool Tower and between Central and North Piers. A high sea wall and promenade back the beach.
Blackpool will have (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"A sewer overflow discharges south of the beach around the centre of this beach - the sewerage facilities of the area were upgraded in 2010."
Blackpool Central and Blackpool South do not currently have water quality alerts.
Three beaches in Barrow-in-Furness are also affected and are currently pumping sewage in the heart of North Walney Nature Reserve.
Other beaches in northwest England with warnings are as follows:
- Walney West Shore
- Walney Biggar Bank
- Walney Sandy Gap
There are currently no warnings in Wales and only one recorded warning on the map for Scotland, located in Dhoon Bay, Dumfries and Galloway.
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