Consultation outcome

Summary of responses and government response

Updated 10 April 2023

Executive summary

Defra held a consultation on a proposal to de-designate Tunstall Beach in East Riding of Yorkshire as a bathing water under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1675) (the ‘regulations). The consultation ran from 10 March 2023 to 24 March 2023.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council submitted the application to Defra to de-designate Tunstall Beach as a bathing water following engagement with the Environment Agency and local stakeholders.

Tunstall Beach has been considered for de-designation as a bathing water because accessibility issues caused by cliff erosion have resulted in very low user numbers for bathing. This has also made it infeasible for the Environment Agency to carry out sampling at the site.

Water quality at Tunstall Beach was classified as excellent from 2007 to 2018. However, since 2019 Tunstall Beach has not been classified, as it has not been safe or feasible for the Environment Agency to access the beach to collect water samples.

The consultation asked respondents whether they agreed, disagreed, or neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposal to de-designate Tunstall Beach as a bathing water. It also invited them to provide reasons for their view if they wished to.

Water quality is monitored at bathing waters by the Environment Agency during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. Bathing waters are classified annually as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.

If water quality does not meet the legally required standards, the Environment Agency will investigate the sources of pollution and recommend remedial measures to make improvements.

Number of responses

In total 5 responses to the consultation were received. 2 private individuals and 3 organisations responded to the consultation. A list of organisations which submitted a response is included in Annex A.

Responses

The consultation asked respondents ‘What is your view on the proposal to de-designate Tunstall Beach as a bathing water?’. Respondents were invited to provide evidence to support their answer if they wished to do so.

Of the 5 responses received:

• 1 supported the proposed de-designation of Tunstall Beach as a bathing water
• 1 neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposal
• 3 disagreed

All responses provided additional detail to support their answer.

The reason given for agreeing with the de-designation proposal was that the site is unsafe to access due to coastal erosion.

The reason given for neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the de-designation proposal was that regular testing to assess water quality in bathing waters is a first step to water quality improvements which reduce the risk to human health.

Of the 3 respondents who disagreed with the de-designation proposal, one felt that alternative methods of testing could be used if standard water quality testing is not possible. One felt that new access could be created, and one felt that people should be able to use their own judgement as to whether the site is safe to access.

Government response

While we recognise that more respondents disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposal than those who agreed, there was only a small number of responses in total.

No evidence was provided to contradict the assessment that accessibility issues caused by cliff erosion have resulted in very low user numbers for bathing and have also made it infeasible for the Environment Agency to carry out sampling at the site in the standard way.

Decision and next steps

Following this consultation and considering the reasons set out above, Tunstall Beach will be removed from the list of designated bathing waters before the start of the 2023 bathing season. We will write to the local authority to confirm that the site has been de-designated. Bathing water signage will be removed at the site.

Annex A - list of responding organisations

• Clean Rivers Trust
• Surfers Against Sewage
• Yorkshire Water