A report in The Sunday Times has this week named Burnham as one of the resorts where the current sea water quality will not meet the stringent new EU rules that come into effect in 2015.
The Environment Agency has drawn up the list, with popular coastal towns such as Blackpool and Scarborough included alongside Burnham and Uphill near Weston.
“The EU rules mean 45 beaches face having to put up signs marking them as unfit for bathing from next year unless expensive steps are taken to improve water quality,” says the report.
However, Burnham’s Tourist Centre Manager Ian Jefferies told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Nothing has changed for the worse about our water quality in Burnham, just the way it is being monitored.”
“The EU regulations could hit us badly, but they are unrealistic for river estuary resorts like Burnham where there is lots of silt in the sea water that adversely effect our results.”
The new rules will see the introduction of higher standards that are approximately twice as stringent as those currently in force.
Ian added: “More should be done by the Envrionment Agency to help us improve our water quality, but the funding seems to have been directed to other areas.”
Weston received £35million of investment to improve its sea water quality with a new water treatment plant while Burnham has received nothing.
The new EU water quality standards have been featured several times by Burnham-On-Sea.com over recent years, including here last October when town councillors expressed ‘deep concern’ about the impact of the changes on local business.
Cllr Helen Groves said more should be done to address the problem. “Sedgemoor District Council could be bidding for central government funding to try and help Burnham address the matter,” she said.
