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.
Heacham Beach may never be a swimmable beach[/caption]
High pollution levels in the water have been attributed to bird waste[/caption]
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.
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.
Millions of pounds are being invested into the surrounding areas to clean up the waters[/caption]
