DEFRA have published their annual bathing water quality updates for 2024 and there are no changes to the classification of Fylde’s two designated bathing waters. St Annes Beach remains at ‘sufficient’, and St Annes North Beach remains at ‘poor’.
Officers have been monitoring the test results carried out by the Environment Agency throughout the 2024 season. Although the overall classifications remain the same, the results gathered in 2024 do show an improvement against previous years and there are positive signs that the quality of the bathing waters will improve in coming years. The Environment Agency’s classifications are based on four years of Bathing Water testing data. Notably, the results from 2022 and 2023 were particularly poor, which heavily impacts the classification for 2024.
Earlier this year, to continue to improve the bathing waters along the Fylde Coast, Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Environment established a partnership with Fylde Coast Against Sewage (FCAS). FCAS is a growing volunteer group that shares an objective of the Council to improve the quality of the Fylde Coast Bathing Waters. The group carry out independent testing of the bathing waters funded by the Council throughout the bathing season of May-September. The testing helps to build the evidence base needed to constructively challenge all agencies and organisations tasked with improving the quality of our bathing waters.
Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “The fact that the bathing water quality classification at St Annes North remains unchanged is extremely disappointing. Most people will not be aware that the classification is reached in consideration of the last 4 years of data and therefore, despite an improving picture this last year, we are still downgraded.
“This season we teamed up with the local action group, Fylde Coast Against Sewage, to fund additional sampling of our waters during the bathing season to better understand the challenges we face. The samples have shown a decrease in pollution spikes which broadly correlates with the Environment Agency results over the same period.”
“Fylde’s beaches are among our most cherished attractions, drawing visitors from across the globe. Both the council and the community are dedicated to maintaining them as clean, safe, and inviting spaces, but the agencies responsible for water quality need to accelerate their action plans to clean up our bathing waters.”
Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Lead Member for Environment, said: “The results are disappointing, and we remain committed to improving bathing water quality by working closely with our partners.
“We urge United Utilities to expedite the process of identifying problem areas within the Ribble catchment and to take swift action to address these concerns.
“The key reason behind the partnership I facilitated with FCAS earlier this year was to gain a more detailed insight into the bathing water quality on the Fylde coast which would further support the testing done by the EA.
“Fylde Council will continue to advocate for improvements and support measures that enhance water quality along the Fylde Coast and beyond.”
For more information about Fylde Council’s designated bathing waters, including their current classifications, please visit the Fylde Council website: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/resident/leisure/leisure/beaches/
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