16th May 2012

LYME REGIS: ‘Don’t swim here’ signs may go up

MORE CONCERNS OVER BACK BEACH WATER QUALITY

By Philip Evans

HEALTH officials may insist that signs go up on the Church Cliff Beach at Lyme Regis warning bathers not to swim in the sea.

The quality of the bathing water off the Back Beach has consistently fallen below the standard expected but town councillors have been adamant in refusing to de-designate the beach as suitable for swimming, preferring to work with authorities on improving the quality of the water by eliminating pollution of the River Lim that runs into the sea.

But the town council has now been informed by Jeanette Guy, head of public health at West Dorset District Council, that new directives are being introduced that may force the erection of signs warning swimmers that the beach is not safe.

In a letter that will be considered by the town council’s Strategy and Policy Committee this evening (Wednesday), Ms Guy says that the revised bathing water directives are designed to protect public health and allow people to make an informed decision where to bathe.

Water pollution

She will inform councillors that at the start of the 2012 water bathing season a sign must be in place on all beaches.

Town councillors have been working with other agencies, including the district council, South West Water and the Environment Agency, to solve the water pollution issues further up stream on the River Lim.

But Ms Guy, in her letter, said: “I am concerned despite work that has and will be undertaken to try and improve bathing water quality at Church Cliff Beach this might not be sufficient to improve the future classification of the beach. This will mean the required signing having to advise people against bathing here in future, potentially causing reputational risks to the tourist economy in Lyme Regis.

“As this bathing water has a relatively low usage compared to the Front Beach, and there are no facilities or lifeguards here, I would encourage the town council tocollect and review evidence to decide whether it would be appropriate to apply to Defra to designate this as a water bathing beach.”

Town councillors have also expressed their concerns about the polution of the River Lim by pigeons nesting and roosting on buildings adjacent to the river.

The Environment Agency has produced a leaflet on water quality and the River Lim and the town council has agreed to arrange and pay for distribution to every household in the town.

West Dorset District Council has also modified and improved a seagull leaflet produced in St Ives to serve West Dorset and Weymouth and a small number has been made available for Lyme Regis.

Town councillors are being asked whether they want to produce more seagull leaflets for every household in the town at a cost of £320.