Campaigners call for action to reduce sea water pollution in Burnham

Stringent new EU restrictions on water quality mean that Burnham might fall below the new standards unless improvements are made across the rivers Brue and Parrett catchment areas.

If the town falls foul of the new restrictions, next year warning signs might have to be erected to state that the bathing water has failed the new standards.

Burnham and Highbridge town council says the water quality off Burnham beach is affected by a number of rivers flowing into it. This means the issue needs to be tackled over a wider area such as the Mendips and Taunton to help stop water pollution.

New leaflets are being distributed that mean more people can take steps to reduce pollution such as cleaning up after their dogs.

James Heappey, parliamentary candidate for Burnham for the Conservatives, attended Sedgemoor District Council’s community scrutiny committee last week and called on councillors and representatives of Wessex Water, the Environment Agency, the Drainage Board and Sedgemoor Council to do all they can to improve the quality of Burnham's bathing water.

After the meeting he said: “The authorities are on this and the amount they plan to invest is significant but I will continue to hold them to account.

“We must also make sure we do our bit by disposing of cooking oils correctly, cleaning up after our dogs, not feeding the seagulls on the sea front and making sure litter goes in the bins. Our target should not be to hit the minimum standards but to aim for the very highest."

Mr Heappey visited Burnham with MEP Julie Girling in July to discuss the issue. He said: “Mrs Girling has subsequently met with Wessex Water.

I know that she is encouraged by the plans that are now in place but notes that they are at least a year too late.

“If the result of that tardiness is that Burnham must display signs that dissuade tourists from visiting then that delay could prove to be very costly for our local economy.”