Scarborough's bathing water quality set for discussion at public meeting
Environment Agency findings reveal pollution concerns in South Bay and North Bay
The poor quality of the bathing water in a much-loved North Yorkshire resort is set to be discussed at a special meeting.
A public meeting of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee will take place this morning to discuss the findings of an investigation into the causes of water pollution in Scarborough.
The Environment Agency’s (EA) updated bathing water ratings have classed Scarborough’s South Bay bathing water quality as ‘poor’, with swimming discouraged, and the North Bay’s bathing water as ‘adequate’.
Cllr Liz Colling, committee chair, said: “The subject will be water quality in the South Bay, but also now, as we know from the data we’ve seen, the North Bay.
“We’ll have the Environment Agency, Durham University, and Prof Darren Gröcke, and he’s the chap who’s been investigating the seaweed as an indicator of water quality.”
Local organisations and hospitality associations have been invited to address the meeting, while members of the public are also invited to attend.
For almost two years, Professor Darren Gröcke has been leading a comprehensive study of seaweed along the North Yorkshire coast from Filey to Hayburn Wyke, on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.
Through nitrogen isotope analysis of more than 3,000 samples, his findings show values linked to animal manure and human sewage as the dominant contributor to nitrogen pollution, according to the university.
The study also indicates Scalby Beck as a source of nitrogen pollution in Scarborough that is carried south by marine currents towards Scarborough South Bay, a popular visitor and leisure area.
It comes as Yorkshire Water have announced plans to spend up to £150m over the next four years to cut pollution.