'We're being cheated' - Pollution activist Feargal Sharkey slams Blackpool sewage spills amid council pledges

One of Britain’s biggest unions has claimed that Blackpool bathing water is “riddled” with E-coli after 182 sewage spills, amid major council pledges to improving bathing waters in the resort.

The GMB’s national conference in Blackpool heard that, according to the latest figures from the River Trust, Blackpool suffered spills totalling 1,053 hours - or 44 days - last year. United Utilities’ sewer storm overflow near Blackpool’s Central Pier spilled into the sea 42 times for a total of 238 hours alone.

What is E-coli?

Environment Agency (EA) data showed that Blackpool’s bathing water had 100 E-coli bacteria per 100ml tested in a sample last year - the equivalent of 5,680 in a pin of water.

E-coli is a bacteria that lives in the intestines of animals and humans. Some strains can cause severe food poisoning and stomach cramps. The existence of the bacteria in sea water is caused by water running off from farmers’ fields where animals such as sheep and cows graze.

Earlier this year, the Government announced Ofwat would be scrapped and a new ‘super regulator’ would take its place in an effort to improve bathing waters in the UK. The GMB moved a motion calling for a “permanent worker seat” on the board of the super regulator of the water industry to “safeguard from further failures”.

One of the biggest campaigners against water pollution, former pop star Feargal Sharkey, addressed the conference in Blackpool.

Sharkey told delegates: “The brutal reality is as employees, bill payers and customers, we have been lied to, we’ve been misled, we’re being extorted, we’ve been cheated. For 37 years, we’ve been subjected to nothing more than the greatest act of criminality perpetrated against the British people.

“We’ve had little in return apart from corporate greed, profiteering, financial engineering, political failure and regulatory incompetence. In short, we’ve been had. In reality, this Thatcherite theme park has delivered nothing but pain, sorrow and anger.”

‘Conditions are improving’

Blackpool Council chiefs pledge to improve bathing waters off Blackpool North after they were rated “poor” earlier this year for the fifth year in a row.

The rating - following regular testing by the EA - means, once more, visitors are advised not to swim or paddle in the area - which runs from The Tower and sits between Central and North Pier -particularly between May and October.

An EA spokesperson said: "The waters off Blackpool North have been classified as 'poor' since 2022 and regulations mean Blackpool Council must put up signs warning against bathing during the holiday season.

“These signs must remain in place until testing reveals the waters have improved. However, the council has revealed conditions are gradually improving and the resort's other beaches have a clean bill of health.”

‘A top priority for the council’

Last month, Coun Jane Hugo, the council's cabinet member for climate change, said: "Improving bathing waters in Blackpool remains a priority for the council. We are committed to making sure that residents and visitors can enjoy our coastline safely.

"Last year Blackpool's bathing waters performed better than the decline seen in some other parts of the region. While we welcome this, the council recognises that there is still work to be done.

"We are a lead member of Turning Tides, a regional partnership dedicated to tackling bathing water pollution at its source. The partnership includes the Environment Agency, rivers trusts, United Utilities and other local authorities.

"We take the lead in this because of how important water quality is to our economy."Our busiest bathing waters, South and Central, continue to meet the 'sufficient' classification.

"More work is needed from all partners to improve them, but these results offer reassurance to residents and visitors that our busiest beaches remain safe to enjoy. We were also pleased that Bispham retained its 'Good' classification."

‘Varied and complex’

The EA describes the reasons for Blackpool North's 'Poor' rating are “varied and complex”. They include storm overflows, run-offs from farms and other agricultural sites, bird faeces and discharges from water company United Utilities.

This year United Utilities revealed its profits after tax for the year ended March 31, was £730m up from £513m a year earlier. Amid a storm of criticism, CEO Louise Beardmore announced the firm would be funding more measures to stop pollution as part of a £1.4bn spend over the next 12 months.

The GMB says United Utilities dumped sewage into the UK’s waterways more than 60,000 times in 2025. The spills – which are recorded by the EA – pumped out raw, untreated sewage for a total of 327,453 hours.