Beaches to be proud of in the North East

Nov 18 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

BATHING water quality off the North East's beaches was at its best ever this year.

Results of sampling by the Environment Agency meant that every one of the region’s 34 beaches passed the European Commission minimum mandatory standard – the fourth year running the North East had a 100% record.

Last year, there were 13 failures at the higher guideline level, though.

This year the number of guideline failures was down to four – a best ever result. The compliance rate was 88.2% compared to 61.82% last year.

This year’s failures were Spittal near Berwick, Newbiggin North, Seaton Carew North and Saltburn.

Beaches which failed guideline last year but passed in 2009 include Newbiggin South, Blyth South Beach, Seaton Sluice, Cullercoats, Tynemouth Long Sands North, Seaburn Sunderland, Seaham Beach and Seaham Hall. Nationally, 98.3% of beaches met the mandatory standard and 80% the EC guideline level.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that in the previous two years, results had been affected by very wet weather, which has caused pollution in the form of run-off into the sea from urban areas and farmland, and the more frequent operation of combined sewer overflows which are activated in stormy conditions.

In the North East in 1998, no beaches passed guideline standard.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said the vast improvement over the 11 years was the result of multi-million pound investment in pumping stations, pipelines, treatment plants, and more sophisticated levels of treatment.

“We are very pleased with the results but we are not complacent,” he said.

In the period 2005-2010, the company has set a target of improving 481 combined sewer overflows at a cost of £85m.

“We are continuing to invest many more millions of pounds to benefit the region’s environment,” said the spokesman.