The English beach that may ‘never be safe to swim in again'
SANDS NASTY The English beach that may 'never be safe to swim in again'
A BEACH in the UK which has some of the dirtiest water in the country could never be safe to swim in again, experts have warned.
Heacham Beach won a "Brown Flag" award earlier this year, which is given to the dirtiest beaches in the UK.
3
Heacham Beach may never be a swimmable beach
Credit: Alamy
3
High pollution levels in the water have been attributed to bird waste
Credit: Alamy
The unofficial award is a version of the Blue Flag, an official ranking of the cleanest beaches.
Not only that, but the beach has been classified as poor quality since 2021 by the Environment Agency, with high levels of pollution in the water.
The dirty waters have been credited to animal waste coming from seabirds - as much as 60 per cent - rather than sewage waste.
The bacteria levels are highest in July and August - the peak tourist season - although the reasons are still being discussed.
Suggestions include a lack of rainfall and an increase in tourism.
West Norfolk Council cabinet member for environment, Sandra Squire, said: "Sooner or later we may have to admit, if 60 per cent of pollution is coming from the bird population, it may be that this area should not be for bathing."
She added: "If Anglian Water said they cannot cope, then nothing else should be connected to that sewage works.
"We all know what happens when they can't cope - we end up with sewage in our streets, our rivers and seas."
Year-round testing is being suggested to work out the reason for the pollution, as most if done during the summer period.
Not only that, but it could soon get even worse.
Everyone can see the beach but only those with a high IQ can spot five differences in 32 seconds in this brainteaser
Anglian Water's (AW) sewage works recently said they were nearing capacity - meaning potentially more pollution.
Ms Squire added: "If Anglian Water said they cannot cope, then nothing else should be connected to that sewage works.
"We all know what happens when they can't cope, we end up with sewage in our streets, our rivers and seas".
It also means tourists are unlikely to visit the beaches if it continues, with on local saying he was met with an "appalling stench of sewage" while there.
Following it's Brown Flag Award - with Heacham being one of 13 in the UK to get one - other visitors have also said they worry about being able to swim in it.
One mum, who visits every day with her daughter, said it was "not very pleasant" to look out.
She told the BBC: "We check the signs and it always says poor quality don't swim.
"Some days there's foam on the water which is a brown colour."
Anglian Water is now investing more than £31million into improving the waters in the region, up to 2027.
In the mean time, we've rounded up some of the UK's cleanest beaches you can swim in.
And here is a pretty Victorian seaside town with no arcades or rides.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
One of the UK's most beautiful train journeys runs right across the beach and it costs less than £20
ONE of the UK's most scenic railway routes costs less than £20 to travel on all day. The Cambrian Coast Railway has previously been named one of the world's most beautiful train journeys. 4 One of the UK's most scenic train routes goes directly across a beach Credit: Alamy 4 The route runs from Aberystwyth to Pwllheli with a change at Machynlleth Credit: Alamy The line runs from Aberystwyth to Pwllheli (with a change at Machynlleth) and often running along the coastline. One of the most beautiful journeys is via Barmouth, where it runs along a bridge that goes directly over the beach or the ocean, depending on the tides. Also called the Mawddach Viaduct, it is the longest viaduct in Wales made from wood, and one of the oldest that is still in use. You can even walk across the bridge, although you will need to ask to get off at Morfa Mawffach. Barmouth is worth a visit itself, as it was named an up-and-coming seaside town. National Geographic said: "This is the sort of town that's full of visitors-turned-residents and it's that sense of pride and community that's powering its revival." It even has a secret beach that can only be visited by tunnel - here is how to find it. Other fun stops along the way include Pwllheli, where you can access popular surfing spots, as well as Fairbourne for sandy beaches. Otherwise popular attractions include the National Library of Wales, in Aberystwyth, or the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn. Make sure to stay on the train in the evenings as well, as it has some of the best sunsets too. I took a 1920s themed train journey with flapper-style singers and luxury dining Visit Wales writer Karen Willans said: "The train ride itself can be a day out, but there's also loads to do along the way. "There's plenty of wildlife to see as well – sea birds (including cormorants), dolphins, porpoises and various birds of prey live in the area." Tickets cost £9.50 for kids or £19 for adults, which includes unlimited travel for the entire day. These can be used after 9:30am in the week, and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Railcard discount cards can also be used, and tickets are accepted on some bus services as well. 4 Trains run as much as 12 times a day Credit: Alamy Around five trains run each way in the week between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, with 12 trains each way between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. These run every one or two hours. There are fewer trains on Sunday, with just three between the May and September season, or one out of this season. Here's the train journey which has been called the most beautiful in the UK. And there is a £5 scenic train journey where waves even crash again the windows.
Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Wales Online
Budget-friendly seaside escape has beach, huge promenade, and best pier in Wales
Budget-friendly seaside escape has beach, huge promenade, and best pier in Wales Dubbed 'The Queen of the Welsh Resorts' this traditional seaside town has long attracted tourists to its breezy shores The town has managed to retain its traditional coastal charm and still features grand Victorian buildings, a long promenade, and a classic pier that's the longest in Wales (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) With just a few weeks left of the summer holidays there's no better time to squeeze in a budget seaside break – but where to choose? In Wales we are blessed with many coastal villages and towns with each offering beaches, ice cream, and activities to keep the kids entertained. One town in particular offers an affordable escape and has been undergoing a significant reinvention focused on revitalising its traditional seaside offerings. Llandudno, dubbed 'The Queen of the Welsh Resorts' on the north Wales coast, has long attracted tourists to its breezy shores. It has a long history that stretches from Neolithic settlements to Bronze Age copper mining. In 1848 architect Owen Williams planned it as a seaside resort. The arrival of the railway in 1858 made it easier for people to travel there and it quickly became a popular holiday spot for wealthy wellness seekers. Happily the town has managed to retain its traditional coastal charm and still features grand Victorian buildings, a long promenade, and a classic pier that's the longest in Wales. While prices have risen since the Victorian era Llandudno is still a budget-friendly destination with a range of affordable hotels (Image: Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images) While prices have risen since the Victorian era Llandudno is still a budget-friendly destination with a range of affordable hotels, guesthouses, and cottages. If you look at prices on sites like and kayak you can find hotels for £83, houses for £66, and cottages for £90. Prices do of course depend on things like the size of the accommodation and length of stay. Among the available hotels at the resort are The Lawton Court Hotel, which has previously been named number one in the world in the best service category in the previous Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. The Elm Tree Hotel, situated less than 500ft from Lawton Court, was named the world's best-rated bargain hotel. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . The seafront is the centre of the town and several properties are located on the two-mile curving Victorian promenade that runs through most of Llandudno's North Shore. The seafront is the centre of the town (Image: Google) The road, collectively known as The Parade, has a different name for each block and many of Llandudno's hotels are built on these parades and crescents. There are also a number of boutique shops, independent restaurants, churches, and museums to explore on the promenade and across the town. Adjacent to the parade is the North Shore Beach, which is Llandudno's primary beach. It is the larger of the two beaches here and is sheltered by two headlands – Great Orme and Little Orme. While it might not be the sandiest of beaches in Wales it is one of the more traditional with a promenade, pier, boat rides, deckchair rentals, donkey rides, ice creams, live music from the bandstand, and a Punch and Judy show. Llandudno pier and promenade (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live) Established in 1860 this is Britain's oldest-running Punch and Judy show. It is performed by the fifth generation of the Codman family using the original hand-carved and painted puppets made from driftwood from the beach. If you want to swim or sunbathe on the beach there are some sandy sections but towards high tide it is mainly pebbles. The main draw here is the impressive Llandudno pier. Stretching 700m into the Irish Sea from the North Wales mainland Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales and one of the longest in the UK. This year it won the prestigious Pier of the Year award voted by the members of the National Piers Society. The win is even more special as the historic structure, built between 1876 and 1878, was badly damaged during Storm Darragh in December 2024. A pier hut was blown across the boardwalk causing major damage to slate roofs on other shacks. As a result parts of the pier were closed for months. Stretching 700m into the Irish Sea from the North Wales mainland Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales (Image: Portia Jones ) It's now open to the public and buzzing with attractions, arcade rides, stalls, and a big wheel. The Deck Arcade, housed in the original Victorian bandstand at the pier head, offers games and spectacular views of Llandudno Bay. Leisure Island is the main arcade at Llandudno Pier and has a prize shop where you can exchange your tickets for a variety of treats. For food the Pier Grill & Ice Cream Parlour is located at the start of the pier and serves classic burgers, chips, and ice cream. Stroll the wide boardwalk and you'll also find a traditional sweet and rock shop, cheese stall, and Welsh gin and whisky kiosk. For epic sunsets and cocktails call into the Ocean Bar. Located at the end of the pier with epic views of Llandudno Bay and Great Orme you can sip ice-cold beers and colourful cocktails while enjoying live music during the summer. Fairground rides on Llandudno Pier (Image: Andrew Forgrave/North Wales Live) Along the pier, promenade, and main beach there are also other beaches in this area that you can explore. While the popular North Shore Beach draws considerable crowds Llandudno also features another sandy stretch that remains a 'hidden gem' for countless visitors. Tucked away on the far side of the headland lies West Shore Beach, an isolated cove fringed by undulating dunes. This serene spot offers a peaceful contrast to the animated North Shore Beach making it perfect for those yearning for a quiet retreat from Llandudno's primary tourist hotspots. The beach was also named one of the UK's best beaches. Travelodge's survey described Llandudno beach as "one of the most beautiful spots in north Wales" framed by undulating sand dunes and the Great Orme headland. The hotel chain says its placement on the quieter side of the town means it offers a "peaceful retreat from the bustle of the pier and arcade". "You can marvel at breathtaking views of Conwy Bay and estuary and even see the Snowdonia (Eryri) mountains on a clear day," it adds. West Shore beach at Llandudno (Image: Jeff Buck/Wiki) Across the town and surrounding headlands there are plenty of other attractions and natural sights. The Home Front Museum tells the story of civilian life in the Second World War and for whisky connoisseurs you can try a cheeky Welsh tipple at the new Penderyn Distillery site. On the one-hour tour you can discover the history of Penderyn, the building, and how the whisky is made. Then you can sample the whisky in the tasting bar. Masterclasses are also available. For food in lovely surroundings head to Dylan's Llandudno – one of five locations of the family-run restaurant chain known for using locally-sourced produce and seafood. Inside the restaurant you'll find gorgeous décor including a huge low-relief map which nearly covers one wall upstairs. Sculpted by Jane Evans the map is based on the work of Thomas Condor in 1784 titled New and Correct Map of North Wales. Moules mariniere at Dylan's Llandudno (Image: Mark Williams) For lunch the Loaf Coffee and Sandwich Bar serves artisanal coffees as well as delicious freshly-made soups and sandwiches. Definitely try their Welsh rarebit or hand-battered cod and chips. For ice cream visit Welsh institution Parisella's. Situated in the Happy Valley area of the town it was recently named by The Times as one of the tastiest seaside ice creams in the UK. After food why not explore the rest of the town? The best place to take in all the sights is the Great Orme tramway and cable car, which houses the Llandudno Snowsports Centre at the top. The Great Orme Tramway first opened in 1902 and is Britain's only cable-hauled public road tramway. The Tramway climbs a mile high up the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve. The unique journey begins at Victoria Station and ends at the Halfway Station exhibition. One of the best things to do here is to take a historic tram trip up the Great Orme. (Image: Portia Jones ) You can change trams there and continue your journey to the Great Orme summit. This striking limestone headland has a prehistoric story buried beneath its heather-clad slopes. In the 12th century the Welsh poet Gwalchmai ap Meilyr referred to it as Cyngreawdr Fynydd. Its English name, Great Orme, comes from the Old Norse word for sea serpent and is likely inspired by the headland's curving serpentine shape as it juts into the sea. It's famously home to the Great Orme Kashmiri goats whose ancestors once roamed the mountains of Northern India, Ladakh, Kashmir, the Iranian plateau, or the Afghan highlands. While the two-mile-long Great Orme is also best known for its vintage tram and spectacular views from the 679ft (207m) summit it has a hidden history you might not be aware of. Rising above the traditional seaside town of Llandudno the Great Orme is a striking limestone headland with a prehistoric story buried beneath its heather-clad slopes (Image: Getty) This nature reserve headland is home to miles of underground copper mines, estimated to have produced enough copper to make nearly 2,000 tons of bronze. More than five miles of explored tunnels and passageways are here. In 2005 the Guinness World Records team awarded them the title of The Largest Prehistoric Copper Mines in the World. Today these copper mines are an unusual but fascinating tourist attraction. While some sections of this historic mine are closed to the public a section is open for self-guided tours, which are part of the Bronze Age mining experience that the kids will love. The Great Orme Mine tour takes around 45 minutes and includes the visitor centre, an introductory film, and a walk through eerie tunnels mined more than 3,500 years ago. Here you can imagine what conditions might have been like for miners back then in low-lit tiny tunnels that were at risk of flooding. The Orme Copper Mines (Image: John Lawson) A surface walk follows that traverses the smelting shelter and opencast mine, the oldest part of the site, mined in excess of 4,000 years ago. The 200m underground and dog-friendly visitor route takes you down two levels of the mine accessed via a series of slopes and staircases. The temperature in the mine varies between 5°C and 8°C so make sure you wrap up before you head underground. Make sure to pop into the visitor centre, which has a model of a village depicting life in the Bronze Age. You can also look at original 4,000-year-old Bronze Age artefacts and a selection of Bronze Age mining tools. Current ticket prices are £33.50 for a family ticket and you can find more information on their website. Another way to reach the Great Orme and mines is via the cable car system. Opened on June 30, 1969, the Llandudno Cable Cars are the longest passenger cable car system in Britain. As the Llandudno Cable Cars glide silently from Happy Valley to the summit of the Great Orme, 679ft up, you can take in the jaw-dropping panoramic views. Need to know Where is it? Llandudno is on the north coast of Wales tucked between the Great Orme and Little Orme headlands. Getting there by car Llandudno is well-connected by road. From the M56 take the A55 expressway across north Wales – it's a scenic drive. From Manchester or Liverpool it's about one and a half to two hours depending on traffic. There's plenty of parking in and around the town centre and seafront. From Cardiff the drive should take four and a half hours. Getting there by train Article continues below Easy peasy. There's a direct line to Llandudno from places like Manchester and Llandudno Junction (which links to the main north Wales line). The station is right in the heart of town so you can step off and be on the pier within minutes. Use transport apps to plan your journey.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Small Scottish town listed among ‘most boring in UK' defended by locals who call it ‘a wee gem'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOCALS living in "Scotland's most boring town" have lept to its defence after it received the scathing title. Alloa was branded "culturally devoid and one of the most deprived places in Scotland" in the brutal review. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Alloa residents have defended their home Credit: Alamy 4 Alloa was named Scotland's most boring town Credit: Michael Schofield 4 The Clackmannanshire town was third in the UK list Credit: Andrew Barr - The Sun Glasgow 4 Locals have leapt to its defence Credit: Alamy The Clackmannanshire town came third in The Telegraph's most dull places in Britain. But locals in the town were quick to defend their home, even describing it as a "wee gem". Former MP John Nicholson blasted the list as "mean-spirited" when it was released. He told the Alloa Advertiser: "I love Alloa. With its cute wynds, grand merchant houses, and majestic civic architecture, it is a sometimes-overlooked wee gem. "Like any fine gem, Alloa could benefit from a polish too at the hands of the descendants of the skills craftsmen who built and enhanced it." The Scottish Sun visited Alloa when it's brutal brand was published, and even then locals were looking on the bright side. Miko Bylinka told our reporter: "We still have some interesting things going on in town, especially the old brewery, and the nature here is wonderful." Business owner Robert Marshall reckons the town is also one of Scotland's cheapest. He said: "We're cheap, and we do things cheaper than most other places. "We do a lot of promotions. We do a lot of meal deals, and I think Alloa is one of the cheapest towns." We live in Scotland's ugliest town - critics are right, it's a dump that should be demolished Another local added: "It's obviously someone who doesn't live here or care about people [who said it's boring], because one great thing about Alloa, and I've lived here since 1976, is it's friendly." But it could be worse for the Clacks town, as another one further south was branded the WORST in Scotland. It was hailed as a vision of the future when it was built in the years after the second world war. But it has repeatedly been handed the title of Scotland's worst eyesore due to its "spirit-sapping" brutalist architecture. It was voted "most dismal" town centre in the 2001 and 2005 Carbuncle awards, which were scrapped in 2017.
