YP Letters: '˜Queen of Yorkshire coast' needs clean beaches

WITH an ever-increasing number of families now taking holidays in Britain, a trend that is likely to continue as the uncertainties of travelling by air abroad act as a major hurdle, a clean beach is surely a basic requirement, free of bacterial pollution from “humans, seabirds and dogs” not to mention “bacteria from industrial effluent”.

The recent report that for the second year running Scarborough’s South Bay, rated “poor” last year, has again failed to meet minimum standards for water quality is surely a major cause for concern if the town is to be regarded as “the Queen of the Yorkshire coast”.

After visits to watch the cricket as Yorkshire take on rivals in the County Championship at the town’s North Marine Road ground, I think I will give the thumbs down to any suggestion of a bathe or paddle after the day’s play in the waters of the South Bay until the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) deems it safe to do so should the borough council see the merits of a healthy beach as a first priority, despite being “cash-strapped”.