Bude beaches graded excellent by Environment Agency

I have just read this morning that under new EU legislation on bathing water quality that comes into force in 2015, a lot of Cornwall's beaches could actually be closed - including Summerleaze. The Environment Agency (and South West Water) are blaming 'misconnections' and, of all things, dog fouling for the state of the sea. As I said yesterday, it is the unregulated "overflow" discharge pipes that have a lot to answer for. Basically, it rains, the sewage works can't cope with the sudden influx of water and the whole system is allowed, quite legally, to overflow either into the nearest river or beach. The problem is that the capacity of the sewage system has not grown in line with the population because of continued profit taking instead of investment in the infrastructure.

I have just read this morning that under new EU legislation on bathing water quality that comes into force in 2015, a lot of Cornwall's beaches could actually be closed - including Summerleaze. The Environment Agency (and South West Water) are blaming 'misconnections' and, of all things, dog fouling for the state of the sea. As I said yesterday, it is the unregulated "overflow" discharge pipes that have a lot to answer for. Basically, it rains, the sewage works can't cope with the sudden influx of water and the whole system is allowed, quite legally, to overflow either into the nearest river or beach. The problem is that the capacity of the sewage system has not grown in line with the population because of continued profit taking instead of investment in the infrastructure.

Hi John,

a) I am disinclined to trust any government agency - just see my story earlier this year about water quality and dodgy plumbing, http://tinyurl.com/37n6x98

b) My understanding was that the Good Beach Guide hasn't tested Summerleaze yet this year - although it did fail last year, again covered by me here on BudePeople.

Bearing in mind what South West Water charge, and the profit they have just announced, I feel that they could do a lot more, especially with their "overflow" discharge pipes.

Hi Stephen

How do we make sense of the report from Environment Agency that the two beaches in Bude were classified as "excellent" when the Bude & Stratton Post (today 2 June)carries a headline "Bude's Summerleaze beach fails to reach minimum bathing water quality standard" according to Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach guide?

Puzzled of Poughill