Lyme Regis: Hoteliers' concern at poor quality of beach water (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Hoteliers' concern at poor quality of beach water

10:50am Thursday 29th July 2010

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Lyme Regis hoteliers and restaurateurs have expressed their ‘gravest concerns’ over the poor water quality at one of the resort’s beaches.

The bathing water at Church Beach was named among the dirtiest in the country in the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Good Beach Guide 2010.

There were fears over how the results would affect Lyme’s thriving tourist industry after they were published.

The Lyme Regis, Charmouth and District Hotel and Restaurant Association has called for swift action to tackle the problem.

It comes as West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin reveals the town’s beaches are in an ‘ok condition’ following his talks with the Environment Agency’s chairman Lord Chris Smith.

In a letter to Lyme Regis Town Council, the association chairman Lesley Stone said: “In light of the recent adverse national media coverage, the Lyme Regis, Charmouth and District Hotel and Restaurant Association would like to express their gravest concerns regarding the sea water quality around Lyme Regis.

“As our members contribute to the financial well-being of the town, we would like to see swift action to address the problem, along with a long-term resolution, to reassure the region’s potential visitors.”

Mrs Stone added: “Although this matter needs to be resolved with the utmost priority, it is absolutely essential to the town’s future as a leading visitors’ destination, that it is resolved by 2012 as the revised Water Quality Directive of 2015 will be based on tests taken between 2012 and 2015.”

Since the results were published, meetings have been held between the town council, West Dorset District Council, the Environment Agency and South West Water (SWW).

A SWW spokesman said: “We are working with the Environment Agency to come up with cost- effective options to improve or protect bathing water quality at key locations across the region including Lyme Regis, where we will be spending £140,000.

“Currently, we are using CCTV cameras to survey inside our sewers.

“We have examined 1,500 metres of the network under the town and earmarked 400 metres for improvement. Identified areas will be incorporated into our existing renewal programme, which is scheduled for completion by the end of March 2013.”

Mr Letwin has been in talks with the Environment Agency’s chairman Lord Chris Smith. Mr Letwin said: “I am delighted to say the most recent information is that the beaches, at the moment, are in okay condition.

“What they are still working on is what gave rise to the problem when there was one.”

Mr Letwin is confident visitors will still come to the resort.

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