Eastbourne sea swimmers will meet with authorities to discuss water quality

Sea swimmers in Eastbourne are going to meet with authorities about the issue of water quality.
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MP Caroline Ansell is setting up the meeting after she raised concerns in Parliament.

Mrs Ansell spoke with the group of swimmers recently and was told they would like a revision of the beachfront code of conduct and for the authorities to look at the impact of housing developments on the sewage system.

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The issue of the timing of any alerts published by Southern Water and the utility’s working definition of the bathing ‘season’ were also mentioned as the swimmers go out all year round.

Eastbourne sea swimmers will meet with authorities to discuss water quality. Photo by Anna Piskor. SUS-220321-085800001Eastbourne sea swimmers will meet with authorities to discuss water quality. Photo by Anna Piskor. SUS-220321-085800001
Eastbourne sea swimmers will meet with authorities to discuss water quality. Photo by Anna Piskor. SUS-220321-085800001

Mrs Ansell said, “I will also be convening a meeting between the swimming group and key partners, like the council and Southern Water so more of the work being done now – and future plans – can be better shared and understood following my visit with them.

“It will also be a good opportunity for swimmers’ questions and concerns to be answered directly. Transparency and public confidence is critically important.

“Being able to enjoy the sea is fundamental to our visitor economy too. For all of these reasons, water quality is a top priority for me.”

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Mrs Ansell has also spoken in coastal communities questions in the House of Commons.

She told MPs, “The sea, and all it affords, is our greatest visitor asset in Eastbourne and highly valued by local people.

“I recently met my local swimmers — a very hardy crew that includes one cross-channel swimmer. They are concerned about waste treatment because they enjoy their swimming.

“What reassurance can my honourable friend give them about the new powers in the Environment Act 2021 that will address this, but equally about government-sponsored local action that will improve storm overflows and surface water, and help to take us from ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ status for our bathing water?”

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Rebecca Pow, minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said, “I thank her for her work in campaigning on this matter, which she constantly talks about with me.

“I am delighted that we recently confirmed funding for East Sussex County Council’s Blue Heart project, which she was very proactive about, to help to reach ‘excellent’ bathing water status.

“That very much focuses on what to do about the surface water and how to separate it from the sewage. That fits fully with all the work we are doing, as a government, to make a game-changing difference on improving our water quality.”

Speaking afterwards Mrs Ansell said, “The Blue Heart Project is very exciting and my hope is this will be a game changer for the water quality off Eastbourne.

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“The new Environment Act is also putting much greater pressure on water companies to tackle storm overflows and its mixing with sewage, and I do believe the legislation is tough and will drive improvements - something I said to the swimmers when I met them.

“However, those using the water remain concerned and my hope is the work that has been earmarked will be completed as quickly as possible so we can move to that excellent water quality status.”