Scarborough South Bay: Scientist’s research back theory of beck polluting resort’s sea waters
A scientist has backed up a long-held belief in Scarborough that a major source of pollution to its bathing waters is a beck to the north of the town.
Professor Darren Gröcke, director of the Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory at Durham University, took samples of bladderwrack seaweed from intertidal areas from Filey to Hayburn Wyke over two years, which were then analysed.
“A lot of the results pointed to waste water treatment and sewage as a main source (of nitrogen pollution) including farm animals, rather than chemical fertilisers,” he said. Because of the currents the pollution, which comes into the sea from Scalby Beck, near the Sea Life Centre, travels from North into South Bay. North Bay’s bathing water quality recently dropped from “good” to “sufficient” while South Bay retained the lowest rating of “poor”.
Swimmers are advised against bathing in South Bay.
Prof Gröcke said he believes the town needs another sewage treatment plant. He said: “My understanding over the last few years sometimes during the summer Yorkshire Water’s treatment plant fills to capacity because of the increase in tourists. If you store the sewage and get a heavy rainfall event they can allow the sewage to overflow in the combined sewage outfalls out to sea. Actually you only want to send treated sewage out.”
Steve Crawford owned and ran a surf school in South Bay, but was forced to close, after the “poor” rating. He wasn’t invited to a recent bathing water summit, held at the Town Hall, and took part in a small protest outside.
He has always suspected Scalby Beck to be the source of pollution, as it acts as a giant release valve for the river Derwent in storms and also has five combined sewage outfalls running into it: “The real issue is these five pipes – in 2024 they ran for a combined total of 54 days. There’s been a lot of new builds that have put pressure on the system.
“I’m glad Scalby Beck has been formally identified.”
Councillor Rich Maw said the identification of the beck would come as a “surprise to nobody”.
He said he would keep pushing for “total accountability”, adding: “The coast belongs to the people of Scarborough not private water companies controlling the narrative.”
Prof Gröcke said the recent £2.8m investment by Yorkshire Water at Wheatcroft to reduce discharges from the sewer overflow to a maximum of two per bathing water season appeared to have been effective. He said he was “pleased to back up with research what people in the town have known for a long time”. The research, which was funded by North Yorkshire Council, will be published.
Yorkshire Water has £120m investment planned for Scarborough over the next five years.
The water company said there needed to be a holistic approach as Prof Gröcke’s study, and another by the Environment Agency, identified a number of sources, which also include privately-owned septic tanks, seabirds and agricultural inputs.
These “all need to be addressed to deliver a lasting improvement to water quality.”