Councillors call for 'urgent' action on Bridlington South beach poor water rating
They want to the water quality improved and to find out the reason why it's poor
East Riding councillors have called for action to improve the quality of water off Bridlington South Beach and to find the reason why it has been rated poor.
East Riding councillors backed Bridlington South Cllr Tim Norman’s motion yesterday (Wednesday, January 11) but amended it to include sending one of them to Bathing Water Partnership Meetings.
Cllr Norman said he feared it could affect tourism and harm some businesses while fellow Bridlington South Cllr Andy Walker said Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water action was needed urgently.
But council Economy and Tourism Portfolio Holder Cllr Jane Evison said that while she agreed action was needed she feared tourists could go elsewhere if the issue was overstated.
The call comes after the council’s Environment and Regeneration Sub-Committee heard in December the rating for water off Bridlington South Beach had dropped form sufficient to poor.
Martin Christmas, of the Environment Agency which grades bathing waters, said there was no silver bullet answer as to the cause especially given neighbouring Bridlington North waters were rated good.
The news has already seen the town’s annual Boxing Day Charity Swim cancelled and Bridlington North’s Cllr Jayne Phoenix told the meeting much-needed funds were lost as a result.
It has also caused concern, including from Cllr Norman who is involved in hospitality in Bridlington, as traders gear up for the tourist season in already difficult times.
The poor water rating means that bathers are advised against swimming off the beach but the Environment Agency cannot stop people from doing so.
The Yorkshire Party councillor told the meeting it came after Yorkshire Water spent millions on a infrastructure in the area promising it would get Bridlington South Beach a blue flag.
The councillor said: “Last summer we heard that the Environment Agency were advising people against bathing off Bridlington South Beach.
“Everyone assumed that because the public weren’t told otherwise it was a temporary thing.
“We’ve since heard the waters now have a poor rating and that this could be in place for the whole of 2023.
“The council has stated that it does not believe this will affect tourism in Bridlington but this will affect the holiday season and some businesses.
“We need to get these waters back and back soon.”
But Cllr Liam Dealtry, of Bridlington Central and Old Town, said he felt concerns about the water were going too far, to the detriment of the local tourism trade.
The councillor, a former mayor of Bridlington, said: “It doesn’t matter about a blue flag, if the season’s on people are in the water.
“I’ve swam in all sorts and it didn’t affect me, this could destroy the summer season, we need people to come to Bridlington.”
Cllr Evison said she also worried the situation could see tourists go to rival holiday destinations instead of Bridlington.
The Conservative portfolio holder said: “It’s absolutely right that we get people around the table on this because the situation needs addressing.
“But Bridlington is a very important tourist destination for us and to draw this kind of attention to this area of the beach isn’t at all helpful.
“Yorkshire Water have invested millions here and they won’t walk away from that.”
Council leader Cllr Jonathan Owen said he was concerned as to why the cause of the water quality dropping had not been found.
The leader said: “I’m amazed being a microbiologist myself that they haven’t pinned this down.
“They must have some idea and they must know what they have to test for.
“The issue is we have the Environment Agency, we have Yorkshire Water and we have public health all involved in this, so I’m uncertain who’s taking the lead on this.
“Who’s the person whose door you knock on to get something done about this?”