A senior councillor has warned it may never be safe to swim at Norfolk’s ‘most noxious beach’ as water quality issues continue to cause concern.
Heacham’s coastal waters have been classified as “poor” by the Environment Agency since 2021, with the cause of the problem being hotly disputed among experts and locals.
After another ‘poor‘ result, Sandra Squire, cabinet member for environment at West Norfolk Council, admitted the coastal waters off Heacham may always have high levels of pollution.
Are seabirds to blame?
DNA studies suggest 60% of the Intestinal Enterococci (IE) recorded may be coming from seabirds, which visit the Wash in huge numbers throughout the year.
“The Wash is the most important estuary in Britain for wintering waders,” a spokeperson for the RSPB told East Anglia Bylines. It supports nationally important numbers of breeding waterbirds during the summer months. The fact high levels of bird DNA have been detected as part of water quality monitoring undertaken at Heacham is not a surprise given the spectacular numbers present throughout the year. This is to be expected when there is an easily accessible food source available to them.
IE is the main bacteria causing the problems at Heacham, which is found in human and animal waste and, if ingested, cause severe stomach upsets.
Scientists are yet to gather a full picture of the sources of poor water quality at Heacham, with sewage from misconnections, agricultural run-off and dog waste also contributing.
At a recent full council meeting, Squire said: “Sooner or later we may have to admit, if 60% of pollution is coming from the bird population, it may be that this area should not be for bathing”.
More research and testing required
While DNA evidence suggests seabirds are a major cause, bacteria levels are highest in July and August.
Squire said “we don’t know” why this is the case, but suggested it could be numerous factors, ranging from increased tourism, less or more rainfall or due to birds breeding.
To better understand the problems, the councillor has called for year-round testing at Heacham, as currently it is only conducted in the summer months. She also wants to see the entire catchment area tested to help identify sources.
“Just testing the bathing water at the beach doesn’t give us enough information to be able to tackle issues,” she said.
Recognising the problem for beach users at Heacham, the RSPB agree that more research needs to be done to understand why the levels of pollution are so high in this specific area of The Wash.
“We will continue to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders in finding a sustainable solution to all factors affecting the water quality in this area.”
Is poor infrastructure also to blame?
Councillors are also worried that Anglian Water’s sewage works could be a factor contributing to the problems in the future, after the water firm warned it is nearing capacity and will be unable to cope with any more housing.
Terry Parish, a councillor for the village, reported that Anglian Water had said that Heacham’s wastewater treatment works was unable to cope with any more development. His concern is that when “a wastewater treatment works cannot cope with the waste put into it, then the seawater to which it empties would lose quality and get even poorer.”
Sharing his concern Squire reiterated that the main source of problems at Heacham was unlikely to be Anglian Water’s sewage network.
Tourism, stench and beach huts
While there may not be an easy solution for Heacham’s water quality issues, its reputation and reports of frequent bad smells may be affecting businesses and tourism.
Since the days of the Victorians, Heacham has drawn in generations of visitors looking to luxuriate in its sunsets over the water and golden sands gently receding into the Wash. Over the years, many have invested in the charming beach huts that line the shore.
But the tide now seems to have turned for them, with owners saying their beloved colourful chalets have become far from desirable – and are near-impossible to sell.
Anthony Bubb, councillor for Dersingham, said during a recent visit to Heacham’s South Beach, he was met with an “appalling stench of sewage”.
He said: “This is doing nothing for tourists or the café there.”
While beach hut owners say their plight has been exacerbated by pollution problems – they also blame extortionate rents imposed by “greedy” West Norfolk Council. In the last three years, the annual ground rent charges have risen by £200 to £730 a year, which has left many debating whether to sell after the huts became unaffordable. Those who have attempted to find a new owner have struggled to find anyone willing to take them on due to having to pay a £2,000 transfer fee. Some huts have already been abandoned.
Looking ahead
Following complaints from frustrated beach hut owners a spokeswoman for West Norfolk Council has indicated there could be changes in the future but they are yet to be confirmed and the details have not been revealed publicly.
Whether to blame the pollution on sea birds feeding on the mudflats of the Wash is still being debated. The RSPB told East Anglia Bylines that many of the species that use the estuary are in decline, either locally, nationally or internationally. Therefore the data suggests that the recent water quality issues are unlikely to have been caused by a sudden increase in bird population on the estuary.
It could be some time before a definitive consensus of the cause is reached. Meanwhile Heacham looks unlikely to soon lose its reputation as “Norfolk’s most noxious beach” any time soon.
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