Surfers Against Sewage protest against pollution with paddle outs
Organised by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), people congregated for “paddle outs” in York, Scarborough and Saltburn to call for greater action on water pollution.
Record numbers of people across the North protested over the weekend at the amount of sewage pollution, and the Government’s failure to tackle it.
Organised by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), people congregated for “paddle outs” in York, Scarborough and Saltburn to call for greater action on water pollution.
Overall, these protests took place at 50 locations across the country.
Robin Norton, who led the York protest at Scarborough Bridge, said: “I’m one of around a thousand rowers, kayakers and paddle boarders in York that regularly enjoy the River Ouse.
"We often get splashed and sometimes fall in. Many of us are very aware of the water quality and I feel that if anyone is going to stand up for what is going into York’s rivers and their tributaries, it can start with the water sports community.
"Beyond us: kids paddle in the river, dogs swim in it, anglers pull fish out of it and wild swimmers brave immersing themselves in it. Our rivers should be clean. Let’s end sewage pollution.”
It comes as the Government announced 13 new bathing spots for the swimming season this summer, including Richmond Falls on the Swale in North Yorkshire.
However, the three other rivers in Yorkshire with designated bathing water status - Ilkley Beach and the Wilderness site on the Wharfe, and Knaresborough Lido, on the Nidd – have all been rated as poor quality every year.
In testing carried out last bathing season, the Environment Agency found high levels of both E.coli and intestinal enterococci at Ilkley Beach.
Water minister Emma Hardy said: “The introduction of these new bathing sites means better monitoring of our waterways, a boost for local tourism, and greater confidence for local swimmers.
“Following years of indifference towards bathing waters, this Government has expanded the number of sites as part of our overhaul of the water sector.
“We’re committed to generational reform of our water industry and won’t stop until the job is done.”
SAS is calling for bringing the water industry back under public control, something West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin floated as a way of showing Labour can bring about change. The Government has ruled it out over the cost.