Latest news with #MilesCameron
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
No Blue Flags again for Yorkshire resort
One of Yorkshire's most popular resorts will not fly Blue Flags on its beaches again this year. East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) told the BBC it recognised Bridlington's north and south beaches "did not meet the criteria", so had not applied for the accolades. The authority said it was working with other organisations on "a number of improvements". In 2024, council officials said improving water quality was a "matter of urgency". Hornsea and Withernsea both retained their Blue Flags. Bridlington North, along with Wilsthorpe and South Landing at Flamborough, earned Seaside Awards, which recognise water quality while focusing more broadly on a well-managed, clean and safe beach experience for visitors. In 2024, Bridlington South beach was given a poor water quality rating for the third year running. An Environment Agency report found seabird droppings were the "main contributor" to pollution. On Thursday, the Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership, comprising the Environment Agency (EA), EYRC, North Yorkshire Council and Yorkshire Water, said it was working to improve bathing water quality. A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "The status at both Bridlington south and north beaches remains as 2024. "The Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership is working on a number of improvements, including an awareness campaign with the public to discourage feeding the gulls and to stop littering. "It is hoped this will encourage them back to their natural environment on the cliff faces." Miles Cameron, Yorkshire Water's bathing water manager, added: "Our beaches and coastline are really important to us and to our customers." As well as the bird droppings, he said the EA report identified an "increase in human impact potentially from Yorkshire Water assets following rainfall events". He said the firm was investing £40m to upgrade storm overflows at both the north and south beaches in Bridlington, with an additional £60m being spent on upgrades to the town's waste-water treatment works. It is the fourth year running that Hornsea has been awarded a Blue Flag, and the second year in a row for Withernsea. Councillor Barbara Jefferson, the council's cabinet member for heritage and coastal, said: "It is fantastic news that Hornsea and Withernsea can fly Blue Flags this year and that three more of our beaches have been given Seaside Awards. "They have all been recognised for meeting high standards and this shows that we have excellent beaches in the East Riding for residents and visitors to enjoy. Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the Blue Flag scheme, recognises UK beaches if they meet high standards in quality, cleanliness, safety, and have a range of facilities for the public. Follow BBC East Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Boxing Day swim on despite poor water quality Bridlington kept off top beach list again Seabird poo 'main contributor' to beach pollution Blue Flag awards East Riding of Yorkshire Council Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Damaged pipes blamed for surge in sewage alerts
A water company says damaged pipes and broken valves are to blame for an increase in the number of sewage pollution alerts on an East Yorkshire beach. Data from Surfers Against Sewage shows there were 31 alerts in 2024, compared with four in 2022. Yorkshire Water said the alert system had been accidentally triggered due to two damaged outflow pipes and two damaged valves which had been letting in seawater. The company said it was spending £1.3m on repairs. When investigating the spill alerts, engineers discovered ground subsidence had caused damage to two underground pipes. A plastic pipe was found compressed into an oval shape and a concrete pipe had partially collapsed, allowing groundwater into the system. Two damaged valve flaps were allowing seawater to enter the combined sewer overflow and accidentally trigger pollution alerts. Miles Cameron, Yorkshire Water's bathing water strategic partnerships manager, said the repair work on the beach was part of a wider five-year £300m investment programme along the Yorkshire coast. "It got Blue Flag status which is fantastic and gives bathers and customers the confidence they can come to Hornsea," he said. "This is really just about fixing a pipe to make sure it's there for many years to come." Visitors to Hornsea told BBC Radio Humberside their confidence in beach cleanliness had diminished. Mally Armitage said he had not used the beach due to "the raw sewage that's been pumped into the ocean and the recent incident with the tanker", referring to a collison between a tanker carrying aviation fuel and a cargo ship in March. Jerry Ashton said: "You can't have inaccurate information otherwise there's no point having any information is there? "It doesn't worry me too much but, if I was a surfer, and we do have surfers here, or one of the ladies that goes swimming in it, then I'd be extremely concerned." Yorkshire Water said the repair work would be completed by the end of June. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Sewage spills cause charity sea swim cancellation Swimmer blames pollution for E. coli infection Bridlington kept off top beach list again Yorkshire Water
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Damaged pipes blamed for surge in Hornsea sewage alerts
A water company says damaged pipes and broken valves are to blame for an increase in the number of sewage pollution alerts on an East Yorkshire beach. Data from Surfers Against Sewage shows there were 31 alerts in 2024, compared with four in 2022. Yorkshire Water said the alert system had been accidentally triggered due to two damaged outflow pipes and two damaged valves which had been letting in seawater. The company said it was spending £1.3m on repairs. When investigating the spill alerts, engineers discovered ground subsidence had caused damage to two underground pipes. A plastic pipe was found compressed into an oval shape and a concrete pipe had partially collapsed, allowing groundwater into the system. Two damaged valve flaps were allowing seawater to enter the combined sewer overflow and accidentally trigger pollution alerts. Miles Cameron, Yorkshire Water's bathing water strategic partnerships manager, said the repair work on the beach was part of a wider five-year £300m investment programme along the Yorkshire coast. "It got Blue Flag status which is fantastic and gives bathers and customers the confidence they can come to Hornsea," he said. "This is really just about fixing a pipe to make sure it's there for many years to come." Visitors to Hornsea told BBC Radio Humberside their confidence in beach cleanliness had diminished. Mally Armitage said he had not used the beach due to "the raw sewage that's been pumped into the ocean and the recent incident with the tanker", referring to a collison between a tanker carrying aviation fuel and a cargo ship in Ashton said: "You can't have inaccurate information otherwise there's no point having any information is there?"It doesn't worry me too much but, if I was a surfer, and we do have surfers here, or one of the ladies that goes swimming in it, then I'd be extremely concerned." Yorkshire Water said the repair work would be completed by the end of to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
