Feargal Sharkey has waded into the row - not literally
The leader of Blackpool Council has hit out at the 'appalling' sewage problem plaguing the Lancashire coastline, with one leading environmentalist calling for the government to intervene and threaten fines if water companies cannot comply with targets.
The situation meant untreated sewage, mixed with rainwater, was released into the sea by United Utilities, leading to the no swim warning across Bispham, Blackpool Central, Blackpool North, Blackpool South, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, St Annes and St Annes North beaches. Appearing on BBC Radio 4, Councillor Williams said the issue is "incredibly disappointing and really worrying" after presenter Nick Robinson said the incident "could not be much more serious for Blackpool".
Following the interview, a spokesperson for Untied Utilities said work is ongoing to return a fractured pipe to full capacity. The pipe fracture itself did not release any sewage or treated wastewater into the sea. Attention was also focused on the Surfers Against Sewers charity and its live water quality map. Today, the map says a total of 10 beaches in Lancashire have a pollution risk, all because of 'sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours', with Morecambe North and Morecambe South included on top of the eight already with warnings in place. It has also been reported by the BBC that the broken pipe is expected to be fixed by the middle of next week.
Coun Williams said: "People are fed up with this but this has to be down to the government and Environment Agency. They have to hold water companies and United Utilities to account. There needs to be legally bounded targets."
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