Revealed: these are the worst Blue Flag beaches for sewage dumping in England

There’s nothing like a dip in the ocean – particularly if you’re starting off from a Blue Flag beach. Beaches awarded that stamp of approval are supposedly the cleanest and safest, with the UK currently boasting 107 of them.

But new data has us holding our noses. The analysis, led by the Lib Dems, shows that water companies in England dumped sewage onto Blue Flag beaches 1,504 times in 2022 – lasting a total of 8,497 hours. 

Four of the worst affected were in Devon, with Blackpool Sands Beach being the smelliest of the bunch with 63 spills (1,014 hours). Campaigners, the Lib Dems and the Labour Party have said that the government is to blame for continuing to allow water companies to release sewage through storm overflow pipes, putting swimmers and the environment at risk. 

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: ‘Britain’s beaches are being ruined by profiteering water companies getting away with dumping sewage as the government has failed to act for years. What is the point of an environment secretary who doesn’t care about the environment?’

The Blue Flag beaches with the worst sewage discharges are as follows:

1. Blackpool Sands Beach, Stoke Fleming, Devon – 63 spills, totalling 1,014 hours
2. Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon – 79 spills, 946 hours
3. Beachlands Beach, Hayling Island, Hampshire – 102 spills, 793 hours
4. Sidmouth Town Beach, Sidmouth, Devon – 59 spills, 631 hours
5. Exmouth Beach, Exmouth, Devon – 39 spills, 470 hours

South West Water has been labelled as one of the biggest polluters. John Halsall, the company’s operating officer, said: ‘We are reducing the use of storm overflows and our plan is working but there is more to do.

‘We want everyone to feel confident about the water quality at their favourite beaches and to know that we are serious about reducing the use of storm overflows.’

Our advice? Think twice before you take a dive.

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