Bridlington South beach bathing water quality rated poor
The reasons for the rating remains a mystery
Bathers are now advised against going into the sea off Bridlington South Beach after water quality there was rated poor, East Riding councillors have heard.
East Riding Council’s Environment and Regeneration Sub-Committee heard the reason for the poor rating remains a mystery, especially given neighbouring Bridlington North Beach’s waters are classed as good.
Martin Christmas, a planning and engagement manager at the Environment Agency, said there was no silver bullet answer to the poor rating, with more analysis needed to establish the causes.
It comes as the committee heard what the latest Environment Agency water quality classifications were for beaches off the East Riding coast.
The Agency monitors designated waters during the official bathing season between May and September.
Councillors heard both Flamborough South Landing and Danes Dyke remain excellent.
Bridlington North remains good but Bridlington South dropped sufficient to poor.
Fraisethorpe remains good while both Skipsea and Hornsea have gone up from good to excellent.
Tunstell is nominated for declassification because it remains closed due to health and safety issues, meaning Environment Agency staff cannot reach the water to sample it.
Withernsea has risen from good to excellent this year.
Bridlington South’s Cllr Andy Walker said water quality at the beach was an important issue for the town given it is a major tourist destination.
The ward councillor said: “There seems to be some mystery around it, it’s not straightforward.
“But there doesn’t seem to be any local engagement, elected members should be involved as they have local knowledge which would be useful.
“Bridlington South Beach is marked as a tourist destination, we receive a lot of enquiries about this and although it’s not bathing season at the moment bathers do go in there.”
Mr Christmas said this year’s classifications made for a mixed picture across the East Riding coast.
The manager said: “We’ve got some beaches going up to the highest classification and one going down to the lowest.
“Do we have a silver bullet that explains Bridlington South?
“We don’t, we’ll need to continue our analysis and put measures in place to get standards back up.
“When talking about bathing water we’re principally talking about the level of bacteria in the waters that have been designated as bathing areas.
“The classification ranges from excellent to poor depending on the quality of the water we take samples from.
“Water quality is affected by factors including human ones in the form of sewage and harbour activity such as from boats and dredging.
“It’s also affected by birds which is why there’s efforts to move seagulls on from some beaches and from dogs, as well as agriculture.
“A standard of poor means there’s advice against bathing.”