Scarborough South Bay Water Quality Issues Raised at Council Meeting

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 06:00

By Matthew Pells with additional reporting from Anttoni James Numminen, Local Democracy reporter

There is still no identified cause for the poor bathing water quality at Scarborough's South Bay.

The beach at North Bay was last week awarded a blue flag award, but just down the road at South Bay bathers are advised not to enter the water.

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for the environment - Councillor Greg White - says the county's bathing water partnership is continue to investigate.

Concerns about the poor bathing water quality at Scarborough's south bay have been raised at a North Yorkshire Council meeting.

It comes as Yorkshire Water issued a public apology on Thursday for sewage discharges into North Yorkshire’s rivers.

Speaking at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Rich Maw said:

“Could the executive member tell me how many of the county’s beaches and rivers are currently declared unfit for swimmers by the Environment Agency?

“I’m aware of the poor quality of water in South Bay, Scarborough, which has been declared unfit for swimmers and I would like to know what it is we are doing to remedy this.”

The council's executive member for the environment - Councillor Greg White - said a number of partners are working on identifying the cause of problems at South bay.

Water companies in England have pledged to invest £10bn to reduce sewage discharges following considerable public anger over the issue.

However, environmental groups including Greenpeace have said that the improvements should not just be the responsibility of bill-payers “whilst the shareholders remain untouched”.