Agenda item

This report provides an update on the actions taken to investigate and address the causes of the Poor bathing water classification for the Bognor Regis Aldwick. 

[20 Minutes]

[Councillor Brooks declared a Personal Interestduring discussion of this item as his business used LED signs]

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Environmental Health Team Manager presented the report to Committee, which provided an update on the actions taken to investigate and address the causes of the Poor bathing water classification for the Bognor Regis Aldwick, and the progress of the Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Bathing Water Quality Partnership Group.

At present there was no clear link between the elevated sample results seen in 2022 and operation of storm overflows for Bognor Regis Aldwick, and initial investigations had been focused on identifying misconnections. 5 misconnections had so far been identified and addressed, including one toilet misconnection, but investigations were still ongoing. Routine bathing water samples would continue to be taken by the Environment Agency (EA) during the bathing season, as part of the bathing water classifications process. DNA analysis would be considered should high results be found which would give further insight into potential sources of contamination. The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 required Local Authorities, during the bathing season, to display information at each designated bathing water detailing the classification,  and at Aldwick advise against swimming. As part of Arun’s participation in the short-term pollution risk forecasting (PRF) scheme, additional signage was also required to be displayed when a PRF was issued. PRFs were issued during the season at Aldwick, Littlehampton, Felpham and Bognor Regis East. This currently involved manually displaying signage and could mean delays in information being provided to the public due to the time taken to reach each location and post the required signage. Automated signage would eliminate the need to manually place hand-written signs at each location when a PRF was issued, and mean information and any advice against swimming would be available in real-time. There were costs associated with this. Southern Water had indicated their intentions were to provide funding for the majority of the costs of installation of two of the signs.

Councillor Blanchard-Cooper proposed an amendment to the second recommendation as follows (additions have been shown in bold):

The Environment Committee support the installation of automated bathing water signage at Aldwick, Littlehampton, Felpham, and Bognor Regis East and asks Officers to return to Southern Water seeking funding for signage at all four locations.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Madeley and a short debate took place. It was asked whether it should be stipulated that the signage be solar powered. The Environmental Health Team Manager explained both options were being looked at and it was important the best option was chosen. The Group Head of Technical Services also explained the electricity purchased by the Council was from renewable sources. It was also asked whether the Committee would have any say in what signage was used. The Environmental Health Team Manager explained this would be an operational decision.

Following a vote the amendment was declared CARRIED.

 Turning to the substantive, Members and a non-Committee Member given permission to speak, took part in a question and answer session as follows:

·       What did it mean that DNA analysis would be considered? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained the EA funded the DNA analysis and they were submitted routinely in certain circumstances, however they could not commit to doing this every time.

·       There was a discussion around what information the signs would actually display, and whether they could be used for other things such as temperature, and images. The Environmental Health Team Manager confirmed the intention was for the wording to be the same as that showing on the manual signs currently posted when PRF were issued.

·       The report mentioned there was no clear link between samples and storm overflows, could this be an anomaly? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained there was a pattern where higher results were typically seen after the beginning of July and at the end of the season, however modelling for 2022 showed no definitive link to storm releases and so unlikely to be an anomaly. Investigations were ongoing.

·       Would information appear on the signs in real time? The Environmental Health Team Manager confirmed this would be the case.

·       Had Ward Members’ involvement in Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Bathing Water Quality Partnership Group been positive? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained that the additional knowledge Ward Members brought to the Group regarding residents’ opinions had been beneficial.

·       Would DNA testing definitely be carried out? The Environmental Health Team Manager was confident this would happen.

·       Could information from the Beach Buoy app be integrated into the information displayed by the signage? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained that there was a recommendation for the EA previously to integrate this into their modelling and he would raise this at the next meeting of the Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Bathing Water Quality Partnership Group.

·       It was asked that Members be provided with the details of the signage as soon as possible.

·       The data provided by the EA from May onwards so far looked positive. If the data continued on this trend, was it likely that there would be a reclassification to ‘good’ instead of ‘poor’ this year? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained the results and classification were based on information gathered over a four year period, so it was unlikely this could jump straight back up to an ‘excellent’ this year. It was a question that could be asked at the Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Bathing Water Quality Partnership Group.

          The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Greenway and seconded by Councillor Bower.

          The Committee

RESOLVED that

1.      The Environment Committee note the progress of the Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Bathing Water Quality Partnership Group and investigations into the Poor bathing water classification at Bognor Regis Aldwick.

2.      The Environment Committee support the installation of automated bathing water signage at Aldwick, Littlehampton, Felpham, and Bognor Regis East and asks Officers to return to Southern Water seeking funding for signage at all four locations.