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Bathing Water Quality Summit in Scarborough as MP Criticises Yorkshire Water in Parliament

Thursday, 19 December 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells and Anttoni James Numminen, Local Democracy Reporter

A summit will be held in Scarborough today to discuss ongoing issues with bathing water quality.

The summit at Scarborough Town Hall will see representatives from Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency meet with North Yorkshire Council leaders as well as local councillors and local firms including McCains.

It's the latest in a series of meetings aimed at tackling issues with bathing water quality both in Scarborough and along the Yorkshire Coast. The summit will be held in private and is not open to the public.

It comes just days after Scarborough and Whitby MP, Alison Hume, highlighted the water quality issues in Parliament.

Speaking in a debate on the The Water (Special Measures) Bill which is progressing through parliament Alison Hume highlighted a Scarborough Business and Whitby Charity who have both been affected by poor bathing water.

Poor bathing water quality particularly affects Scarborough where this year the South Bay has retained the lowest rating of “poor” and the North Bay dropped from “good” to “sufficient”.

Councillors, residents, and businesses have also warned about the various negative effects of water pollution on the country’s first seaside resort as well as on neighbouring towns and villages such as Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay.

The new bill aims to aims to “significantly” strengthen the power of water industry regulators to bring criminal charges and issue severe fines for wrongdoing.

Alison Hume also raised issues with the River Esk and criticised Yorkshire Water's handling of the pollution problems.

The MP voiced her support for the new bill noting that last year Nicola Shaw, Yorkshire Water’s CEO, received a performance bonus worth £371,000 and a salary and pension package worth £657,000.

Yorkshire Water says that its plans for 2025-2030 include

"an £8.2bn investment in our region, our largest ever environmental investment, including £165m to improve our operations at the coast to reduce overflows and improve bathing water quality”.

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