The Environment Agency has issued a pollution alert for the water at Minnis Bay in Birchington.
The agency says: “Bathing is not advised, due to pollution from harmful algae.
“This incident has been identified as an abnormal situation, water quality monitoring has been suspended. Monitoring will resume once the incident is over.”
The notice was issued at 4.39pm today (May 20) and follows reports of dead marine life along the coastline.
Thanet council says: “We have been made aware of a possible pollution incident at Minnis Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, following reports of dead marine life on the coastline.
“The council is working with the Environment Agency, which is investigating the reports and testing water samples.
“Signs have been put in place between Minnis Bay and West Bay in Westgate-on-Sea, advising members of the public to stay above the high water mark and to refrain from entering the water.
“Dog owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead at all times when on the beaches in this location.
“The council is actively monitoring the coastline to assess the extent of the incident. Further information will follow tomorrow after the latest inspections.”
It’s getting worse and worse.
And the water companies want to increase our bills by 30%.
The algal blooms are a natural occurence that happen every year, known by local fisherman as May water, when the bloom dies and falls to the seabed it often pulls lots of sediment down with it , giving a short period of unusually clear water for the area.
Phyllis Quot – once again conjecture on your part! Wait until results are available before jumping to conclusion that it’s Southern Waters fault!
It would be appreciated if TDC and the Environment Agency published the details of their water tests!
And the A holes still want Johnson back.
Water companies are in business to make shareholders money, not offer a public service.
Don’t worry, the good people of Birchington will still put their cross against Roger Gale or any other numpty as long as he or she is a true blue Conservative, having brought our country to it’s knees. There isn’t any sector they haven’t got their grubby hands on.
By the way where’s our very own blue rinse madam the one and only Pink lady, not a lot coming from this dinosaur, perhaps even he/she has had enough, but I doubt it.
fingers in
Hopefully it’s sorted out very soon for the locals and bank holiday visitors can enjoy the amenities
If the algae is non toxic, natural occurrence. The agencies involved can put up information signs saying its safe.
March this year on a another beach, possible oil deposits on beach signs were displayed. Some signs are still there today. Tdc sort it out.
Prison is too humane for what these water company executives deserve. I think we need a list.
Stop paying your water bills to these ghouls.
Kensington and Chelsea council ignored fire safety laws for over 50 years at Grenfell , the fire service were complicit , both of which contributed to 72 people dieing, no one from either organisation went to prison. So it’s a bit unlikely a water boss is going to be imprisoned for a naturaly occuring event in this case or a bit of sewage on a beach. Eventually we’ll all ne paying bigger bills to sort minor issues out.
It’s may water get over it. By the end of the month it will no longer be there it’s happend for years and will continue to happen regardless of what people do. It’s nothing to do with the so called pollution that everyone is blaming. And it’s harmless to humans and animals the only reason for the lugworm and ragworm dying is because there holes get blocked up with sediment and Algae bloom particles. I’ve studied the waters for years and Ive been a keen angler all my life. It’s the same as all the dogfish washing up and all the crabs and starfish during the spring tides and everyone blames global warming or pollution and none of them are the cause.
‘The algal blooms are a natural occurrence ‘, I think you mean phenomenon,and clearly this one isn’t if even the EA are putting up do not bathe signs in Minis bay. Sometimes it would be best for the armchair experts to do a crossword rather than let us have the fruits of their knowledge.
The failure of regulation and the lack of candour throughout Govt local and central is causing a problem with public trust in state and privatised services,and this is highly damaging.
Much of the misinformation over COVID and vaccines grows like algal blooms, because the state in all its formats has lied, does lie and will lie, repeatedly to save face and money.
The problem goes beyond algal blooms, it goes to the heart of government.
Armchair expert I have a marine biology degree I’m far from an armchair expert I’m probably more qualified than most of the EA workers who half arse tests all the time and 80% of the time they are incorrect or inconclusive.
Contaminated blood? “Children used as objects for research” according to my newspaper this morning! Ditto that for servicemen exposed to nuclear bomb tests! Who to trust? There has been a culture by professionals to ignore errors, even when they know they are in the wrong! Hillsborough police cover up, make your own list!
Warning extended to West Bay now as well.. signs up this morning although not very informative.