South West Beach Workshop Notes - Wednesday 18th February.

Copies of all presentations are available from Ron Jones.

Bathing Water Directive update, Nicky Cunningham, Marine Technical Advisor, Environment Agency.

Details of the proposed changes to bathing water directive can be found on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/bathing/revision.htm. This web page also includes an assessment of the expected classification of each of the 483 bathing waters in England and Wales under the Commission's proposed bathing water quality standards.

If the above link does not work you may have to copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser.

Essentially beaches currently passing water quality standards may not pass in the future, however the proposed changes also state management actions (e.g. information provision and real time predictions of falls in water quality). The percent of bathing waters achieving the current standard is 99%, this is projected to fall to 77% with the new directive, however small falls in water quality e.g. after heavy rain, can be discounted under the management approach.

Please contact Nicky on nicola.cunningham@environment-agency.gov.uk for further information.

Questions.

Q. Will the EA be able to tell the difference between pollution sources soon i.e. point and diffuse sources?
A. There is a current project assessing this with seven pilot actions. One of these pilots is looking at typing bacteria to pollution sources. The research is at the early stages but techniques may be trialled next season. If successful it will be possible to source pollution and target action.

Q. Are there any AMP3/AMP4 actions in the South West?
A. AMP4 runs from 2005-2010 but under AMP3 South West Water have considered 306 intermittent outfalls to improve standards. The main emphasis has been on shellfish waters (i.e. Estuaries) but this has a knock on effect on bathing waters on the coast. 56 continuous discharges are receiving UV treatment but the new directive will mean that there are areas that need further improvement.

South West Water have invested £1 billion to improve water quality in the SW, so there may be some resistance from customers if further investment is needed.

Q. What is the lobbying strength of the UK in Europe in relation to the new directive?
A. The majority of organisations representing the UKs interests are in favour of the directive but are conscious that the cost/benefit implications need to be addressed.
Caroline Jackson MEP (based in Penzance) is lobbying Northern European issues and beach managers should also lobby both MEPs and Defra.
Water UK and Europa lobby for the water companies.
Encams already lobbies Defra and MEPs on our own behalf but we are happy to collate SW views and forward them to the relevant groups - please contact Ron if you would like to pass on views

Q. How do waters become designated as bathing waters?
A. Defra should be approached with the reasons as to why the waters should be designated, please contact Ron for further details.

Amanda Booth, Regional Director SW.

Update on Encams’ work and the beach management module.

The Beach Managers Forum have a meeting scheduled with Alan Woods (Chief Exec, Encams) and Sue Nelson (Assistant Chief Exec, Encams) in March to discuss the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.
Encams would like the Beach Managers Forum to be a formal group representing all beach managers.
The Seaside Award can no longer continue after the new directive comes into force (as the guideline water quality standard will no longer exist) and what should replace it will be discussed and any changes will be consulted with beach managers. Further details will be disseminated after March.

Q. Does central Government take public open space to include beaches?
A. Yes, but they tend to be included under “other sites” and not as a specific landuse. The current Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (COPL&R) review will consult as to whether beaches and promenades should be included in the code (questionnaires are being sent to all LAs early March). BV199 for street cleanliness also considers promenades but not beaches.

Planning guidance doesn’t include beaches as open space and Central Government often doesn’t recognise it as open space, for example beaches are not included under Defra’s remit. The review of the COPL&R should assess this and Encams are lobbying for beaches to be included under Defra’s remit.


Ron Jones, Coastal Projects Officer SW.
SW League Table 2003

Attached are the resort survey results covering;
Access, cleanliness, water safety, control of dogs, facilities and amenities, maintenance and information.

Comments
• It would be helpful if assessors spoke to beach managers on the day of the survey if there are any problems in case there are any mitigating circumstances. It would be useful if surveyors were also given a contact number of the beach manager before the survey.
• Beach managers need feedback from the survey ASAP – feedback should now be quicker as Encams’ own research team is carrying out the surveys.
• The surveying team needs to survey consistently, scores shouldn’t change year on year if nothing has changed on the beach.
• Is there any guidance on “assistance dogs”? It is generally acknowledged that guide dogs (seeing/hearing dogs) are allowed on the beach but there is no advice in the criteria regarding dogs which may be companion dogs or assist with fetching and mobility.



Conclusion
It was also mentioned that Tracey Higgs and Phil Drew would like to restart the SW beach water safety group but to also discuss other issues and link it to the UK Beach Management Forum.

A suggested name was Beach Operators Group SW (BOG SW!), the group would share best practice across the region, and feedback attendance to any meetings. It would also feed into the Beach Managers forum and national group. Please contact Tracey (01626 361101) or Phil (01736 798090) to discuss further.