The aim of this project is to determine whether the beach management measures currently in place at the bathing waters along the Fylde Coast adequately address all localised sources of pollution, and to recommend future beach management measures so that risks to bathing water quality are either eliminated or minimised.
In order to meet the objectives of the study Blackpool Council have commissioned Cascade Consulting to carry out the following tasks:
- A desk based assessment of available information on bathing water quality on the Fylde Coast and sources of pollutants
- Site visits to inspect potential sources, and to gather reported data and anecdotal evidence from local authorities and local groups/individuals on known pollutant inputs
- A review of available bird data and previous bird control strategies to reduce faecal contamination of beach areas
- Consideration of the relative magnitude of inputs from different sources and the likely cost effectiveness of management methods in reducing faecal pollution of bathing waters
- A critical review of the efficacy of current beach management activities in controlling water quality, focussing on (a) whether the measures are likely to be effective and (b) whether they are implemented and enforced in practice
- Development of a Draft Beach Management Plan