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Water Quality (Fylde Coast)

Volume 302: debated on Monday 1 December 1997

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) studies and (b) investigations the Environment Agency (i) has carried out and (ii) plans to carry out to determine the reasons for the failure of the waters off the Fylde Coast to meet the standards required under the European Community Bathing Water Directive in the last five years. [17878]

Additional monitoring and investigations have been undertaken by the Environment Agency since completion of the Fylde Coast bathing water improvement scheme. These include checking the performance of the scheme, the integrity of the local sewerage network and investigations into additional sources of microbiological contamination. Further information on these investigations, which are not yet concluded, is available from the Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the powers available to him to tackle coastal pollution and (b) the occasions on which those powers have been used in respect of the Fylde Coast in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [17877]

The Secretary of State has wide powers under the Water Resources Act 1991 relating to water pollution. In respect of bathing waters on the Fylde Coast, the effect of The Bathing Waters (Classification) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No. 1597) and the associated Direction and Notice is to require the Environment Agency to exercise its powers to ensure, as far as is practicable, that the Bathing Water Directive quality standards are met.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency have had with North West Water on the failure of the waters off the Fylde Coast to meet the requirements of the European community Bathing Waters Directive. [17879]

Performance of the Fylde Coast bathing waters has been the subject of considerable discussion between the Department, the Environment Agency and North West Water, and this will continue. Improving compliance with the Bathing Water Directive is a high priority for the Government.