Inquiry ongoing to improve Blackpool bathing water quality
and live on Freeview channel 276
Council chiefs want to know why Blackpool North was rated ‘poor’ following the usual samples taken by the Environment Agency, while neighbouring Bispham beach was ‘excellent’.
Blackpool South was rated ‘good’ and Blackpool Central ‘satisfactory’.
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Hide AdClare Nolan- Barnes, head of coastal and environmental partnership investments, told councillors early indications suggested seabirds were the main source of pollution.
But she added: “We are working with the Environment Agency to better understand what is going on.
“One of the difficulties is short term pollution. In the past we have had a lot of warnings, around 40 or 50 during a season. But last year we only had six.”
The Bathing Water Quality Annual Report for 2022/23, which was presented to the council’s tourism, economy and communities scrutiny committee, says the reduction in warnings is due to changes introduced in 2021 in the way the Environment Agency carries out its forecasts.
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Hide AdThe report adds “due to the deterioration in results in the North West for the 2022 bathing season the Environment Agency have carried out DNA sampling and Blackpool Council are waiting for further information on the source of pollution for the 2022 bathing season.”
Water company United Utilities has also been asked to provide an update on the impact of new long outfalls pipes it has recently invested in at Harrowside in South Shore and Anchorsholme in the north.
Known impacts on bathing water include animal waste from areas of salt marsh grazing on the River Ribble, and work is also ongoing to monitor the impact of pollution from dogs and birds.
Public space protection orders are in place during the bathing season between North Per and south of South pier in respect of dog control orders.
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Hide AdOther risks include surface water run-off and misconnections from piped sources.
Nevertheless the 2022 bathing water results mean Blackpool can seek a Blue Flag for Bispham beach, and Seaside Awards for Blackpool South and Central.
The council also recently supported a motion for the ocean, which is a national campaign to highlight the ecological value of the seas around the UK, resulting in academic interest in carrying out more studies.