A call for action over a West Cumbrian beach’s bathing water rating has been made by a county MP.
Josh MacAlister, Whitehaven & Workington MP, has met with United Utilities and the Environment Agency after St Bees beach was downgraded from an excellent to a good bathing water rating.
It has now been made a Priority Bathing Water, with a new action plan setting out the steps being taken to identify pollution sources, improve water quality and work towards restoring its Excellent status.
The plan identifies Rottington Beck and Pow Beck as key areas of focus, with studies showing that bathing water quality is mainly affected by diffuse pollution entering the two becks.
DNA testing has highlighted a mix of pollution sources, including agriculture, seabirds and human pollution, said Mr McAlister,
Action now being taken includes further sampling and investigation along Rottington Beck, Environment Agency compliance work and enforcement where required, farm inspections and audits, targeting known poor-performing private sites, and reviewing discharge permits in the catchment.
United Utilities has also committed to delivering improvements through its investment programme from 2027, including work on combined sewer overflows and pumping stations in the catchment to reduce storm overflow spills and help protect the quality of water entering the sea at St Bees.
Mr MacAlister said: “St Bees Beach is one of the jewels of West Cumbria. Families, swimmers, walkers and visitors all love it, and residents are rightly proud of it.
“But seeing its bathing water rating fall from excellent to good is disappointing, and I’ve been clear with both United Utilities and the Environment Agency that good is not good enough when we know St Bees can be excellent.
“I have met with both organisations and demanded a proper plan to turn this around. That plan must now be delivered, with action to investigate pollution in Rottington Beck and Pow Beck, enforcement where standards are not being met, and the investment needed to reduce storm overflow spills.
“I will keep pushing until St Bees beach is back where it belongs – rated excellent.”
