Love My Beach Survey

Views are wanted to help shape the future of Sefton's bathing waters.

A survey is currently being conducted as part of a North West wide bathing water improvement programme called Love My Beach which Sefton Council is part of. The project began in 2013 and is supported by the Environment Agency, United Utilities and Keep Britain Tidy. There are three designated bathing waters on the Sefton Coast - Lifeboat Road, Formby, Ainsdale and Southport. A similar survey on bathing waters was carried out in 2013 which is now being re-run over the Summer. Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member Locality Services, said: "Since 2013, the BeachCare project in Sefton has been very successful in encouraging people to learn more about bathing waters and to do more to help improve the bathing water quality. "The repeat of the survey will help us to see more clearly how people are already helping their bathing waters but also what else people could do at home to contribute to improving the coast. "It is hoped that there will be an improved level of understanding amongst those who live and work in Sefton, about bathing waters and the impacts of local business, domestic waste water and actions of beach users - dog fouling for example - on the quality of our bathing waters." In 2015, a new Bathing Water Directive came into force to drive up standards and provide the public with better information about bathing water quality. Standards are now twice as stringent. To take part in the survey, which runs until the end of August, visit: www.sefton.gov.uk/lovemybeachsurvey Further information is available on the Love My Beach website www.lovemybeach.org