WORK on a major engineering project to deliver cleaner seas in off Lyme Regis will soon be underway.

South West Water will be constructing a 75 cubic metre storage tank at Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works to reduce the number of storm discharges during extremely wet weather.

The scheme is designed to improve bathing water quality at Lyme Regis' Church Cliff beach ahead of the European Union's revised Bathing Water Directive coming into effect in 2015.

From next year, more stringent EU regulations will be brought in for bathing spots around England, and if beaches fail on water quality standards under the new rules, local authorities will have to display a sign advising against swimming.

The news comes after the Environment Agency issued a warning in May that water at Church Cliff beach was deemed ‘severely at risk’ of failing the standards.

Since then, water quality has improved at the beach with both Church Cliff beach and Front Beach in Lyme given the ‘higher standard’ rating by the Environment Agency under the latest water quality weekly in-season results.

Work on the cleaner seas project starts on Monday, October 6 and will be completed by January 2015.

Town councillor Mark Gage told The News: “As a town council we’re really pleased to see that this work is going to be taking place in the very near future.

“We see this as part of an ongoing investment needed in order to improve the water quality on the River Lym and protect our already excellent bathing beaches.”

South West Water pledged last November to spend another £500,000 in Lyme Regis to improve its infrastructure over the next 18 months.

Project manager Mike Court said: "The project represents a £413,000 investment in bathing water quality at Lyme Regis.

"We believe that, with the help of the local community, this major investment will assist in helping Lyme Regis achieve the new 'sufficient' standard when the revised Bathing Water Directive comes into force in 2015.

"However, the Environment Agency has identified a range of factors adversely affecting bathing water quality at Lyme Regis including urban drainage, agricultural run-off, dogs and birds.

“Improving South West Water's infrastructure is only part of the solution and we continue to work with Lyme Regis Town Council, the Environment Agency and the Dorset Coast Forum to tackle these other issues.”

All the work is taking place within the boundary of the sewage treatment works and aims to have minimal impact on the residents nearby.

For more information see www.southwestwater.co.uk/evencleanerseas.