Wettest Year to Blame for Our Beach Failures

By Peter Harrison

Experts have blamed the wettest year on record for a drop in the standard of bathing water at beaches across the Westcountry.

Three beaches failed the Marine Conservation Society test – Instow in North Devon, Mothecombe in the South Hams and the biggest and most popular of Bude’s beaches, Summerleaze.

With last year having been the wettest on record, the amount of run-off into the sea from fields, roads and rivers resulted in bathing water being affected.

South West Tourism chief executive Malcolm Bell said: "What we have to remember is that despite last year being the wettest on record, our beaches have still generally passed the test.

"The three which have failed are all on rivers which will have had an impact on the quality of the water."

While he did not believe the new report would prevent people from travelling to the region, he said locally it might affect people’s choices.

Nationally, the holiday coastline received a 96.5 per cent cleanliness rating – but 20 of the 573 beaches monitored failed European bathing water standards in 2007.

It is the first time since 2003 there has been such a drop – but generally, bathing water quality is still above the EU average of 95 per cent.

In 1990, 100 seaside bathing areas failed to meet standards, with only 77 per cent recorded as clean enough.

Instow regularly suffers from poor reports because of its location at the mouth of two rivers where they join the Atlantic.

Roger Jacob, clerk of Instow Parish Council, said: "We had bad weather for a lot of last year that would have affected the results.

"But we invest between pounds3,000 and pounds5,000 every year in keeping the beach clean. There’s a lot going on and yet we get such bad publicity."

Bude Stratton town councillor Paula Dolphin said: "Summerleaze is our biggest and most popular beach, so the news it has failed is certainly not helpful.

"I suspect the canal has been one of the main reasons for the problems with the quality of the bathing water."

Among other surprises were the popular Croyde Bay and Saunton Sands beaches, which both dropped from the highest "recommended" grading to a basic pass, while neighbouring Westward Ho! maintained the highest score.

No score exists for surfers’ favourite Fistral Beach, in Newquay, for last year as no sample was taken.

Meanwhile, the drop in standards is said to have caused "no concern" at the European Commission in Brussels.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "A slight downward trend can be observed for coastal bathing areas but bathing water quality remains high in the EU.

"I encourage member states to continue to work towards full compliance of all bathing sites, inland and on the coast."

Torbay Council was celebrating as its beaches achieved a record- breaking seven Blue Flags.

These will this summer be flying over Oddicombe, Meadfoot, Preston, Goodrington, Broadsands, Breakwater and, for the first time, Paignton.

Cabinet member Coun Jeanette Richards said: "This really is fantastic news and it will be particularly special to see a Blue Flag flying above Paignton beach for the first time.

"Our team works incredibly hard to keep all our beaches around Torbay clean and safe and the fact locals and tourists enjoy our beaches so much is proof they are excellent."

(c) 2008 Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.