HC Deb 24 April 1986 vol 96 cc233-4W
Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has established a timetable for the designation of beaches as fit for public use under EEC directives; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

No. In 1979 the Government identified 27 bathing waters for the purpose of directive 76/160/EEC. These were identified on the basis of their use by bathers and there are no immediate plans for further designations.

Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of designating as fit for public use those beaches and rivers covered by the provisions of EEC directives.

Water authority areas
Anglian Severn Trent Thames Yorkshire
Number of public supply areas exceeding 50 mg/1 27 26 1 1
Highest nitrate level *80 *83 *60 *80
* Milligram per litre

In most parts of England lead levels are within the limit set in the EC directive. In the remaining areas water treatment is being or will shortly be used to reduce levels below the directive limit. Details are given in the following table:

Water Authority Areas
Anglian Northumbrian North-West Severn-Trent Yorkshire
Number of public supply areas where water in more than 2½ per cent. of properties may exceed the EC Directive lead limit 40 1 61 7 10

Mrs. Rumbold

This information is not immediately available in my Department. I shall write to the hon. Member setting out the costs incurred and expected to be incurred in connection with the surveillance of and, where appropriate, improvements to the identified bathing waters to bring them to the directive's standards.

Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which beaches have been (a) designated under EEC directives as fit for public use and on which dates and (b) which have not, in: Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Hornsea, Withernsea, Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe, Skegness, Hunstanton, Sheringham, Cromer, Caister, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Southwold, Aldeburgh, Walton-on-the-Naze, Clacton, Whitstable, Margate, Ramsgate, Deal, Folkestone, Hythe, Hastings, St. Leonards, Eastbourne, Seaford, Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Hayling Island, Lymington, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Lyme Regis, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay, Torbay, Paignton, Brixham, Looe, Fowey, Falmouth., St. Ives, Newquay, Bude, Ilfracombe, Minehead, Weston-super-Mare, Barry, Porthcawl, Tenby, St. David's, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog, Pwlheli, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Llanduclno, Southport, St. Anne's, Blackpool, Morecambe and Whitehaven, respectively.

Mrs. Rumbold

Of the places mentioned by the hon. Member, bathing waters have been identified under directive 76/160/EEC at: Scarborough, Bridlington, Margate, Swanage, Weymouth, Torquay, Paignton, St. Ives, Newquay and Weston-super-Mare. The identifications were made in 1979. It was made clear then that non-identification did not imply that a beach was unclean or unsafe or that it would have to be closed or restricted to bathers in any way.