Friday, May 22, 2009

Not so peachy on the beaches

The Marine Conservation Society has released the 2009 Good Beach Guide. Only 41 Scottish beaches merit its excellent quality stamp, three less than last year.
Blame in the fall in water quality has been put down to the heavy summer downpours that we experienced last year overloading sewers and the treatment plants.
Nairn’s East beach failed to make it to the excellent quality, and only managed a basic pass for water quality.
Nairn beaches are always going to suffer in terms of water quality due to the sewage outlet and also pollution from the river.
We need to decide if our beaches are dog friendly or not and let all concerned organisations know. The MSC lists Nairn beaches as OK for dogs but visitors are going to find signs saying otherwise.

15 comments:

Weast Beach said...

Surely its not Dog Crap that is the problem,but the Human variety.
What next,Stop all humans going on the beach,unless they are on a lead
and carrying wee baggies.

Anonymous said...

Stop all humans going on the beach,unless they are on a lead
and carrying wee baggies.

That'll be husbands then :)

Anonymous said...

Don't know about that,but whats wrong wi a Wee Blonde Baggie instead of that boring Green.

Anonymous said...

Reading the MSC lit, it suggests the problem is that when the storm rains reach a certain level, they end up washing more raw sewage out from the overflows. (Unless I've misunderstood the issue).

In which case, greater care with the sewerage planning may be of benefit.

- Brian, My Nairn

Anonymous said...

Not sure what MSC lit might be?

There are several holding tanks in Nairn which will contain a certain amount of water that you will get with heavy rain, but as with all drainage they can get swamped and overflow in exceptional weather. There has to be sensible planning in these matters or costs would be unacceptable.
The cleanliness of a beach depends very much on when the monthly readings are taken with wind, tide, and rain having direct results on the readings.
As has been mentioned Nairn has both a sewage outlet and a river which will effect the water quality on our beaches and mean that our East beach is unlikely to get top marks unless the criteria is changed (Again)

Jane Harkiss said...

I know this may sound a tad harsh to some people, but humans are in fact, more important than bloody dogs. Fact. I have lost count of how many times Dr Lecter has stood in something foul, and let me just say, that it is not improving his mental state at all - or mine, because I am the dumb ass that has to wipe it off his brogues. Love makes you do you the strangest things! XX If we get e-coli poisoning from some unattended mutt's arse, then I cannot be held responsible for Hannibal's actions. Sorry. X

Graisg said...

The arguments about tests and contamination from the river etc are not new. The Gurnmeister remembers the like going for at least 20 years and predicts the same again.
If you need to know more track down any River Community Council vetran and ask them.
Turds on shoes? A small and simple problem. Tip of the day: always wear a full length face visor when strimming long grass frequented by dogs whose accompanying humans know nothing of the advantages of little green (or blonde) bags.

Jane Harkiss said...

Alternatively, we could all take a wee peek out of our fucking air-tight bubbles at the whole issue of pollution? No? Thought not. Oh well, sorry to intrude on your weekend. On you go, just take yer bloody doggie oot walkies then, while the bloody polar ice-cap melts.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Pookie has finally worked out the futility of the dog ban on the beach! She's seen there is a bigger picture here. Banning dogs from the beach is not going to solve the main problem and its causes - humans!

Anonymous said...

Soon there will be much back slapping and congratulations from various quarters about how we have excellent water quality etc, etc. But, a word of caution, the East Beach is only what, about 150m from the Central (sorry, it will always be the West to me) Beach? The East Beach just gets a Basic pass so why does one get a Recommended and the other doesn’t? Tidal flow. Don’t get bogged down with the sewage works, look at what’s coming out of the river, or as SEPA calls it, Diffuse pollution.

Talkingcrap said...

Seriously folks, I’m wondering why is the east beach not getting such a good rating as the central beach? Problems at the old sewage works maybe. If that’s the case then if all these new houses their talking about building go ahead will the sewage system be able to cope with all the extra toilets and what comes out of them, eh!

Anonymous said...

If every one wants to see what ends
up on our beaches.All they have got to do is.After the next period of thundery rain,go along to the Merryton Bridge and watch both banks from the Roadbridge down.

You will get an education,on what is being dumped into the River Nairn,and then down onto the beaches.

Jane Harkiss said...

I may be a semi-retired porn star, but I am educated, believe it or not. Oh yes. I do possess a much coveted honours degree in Applied Nothingness, from the Polytechnik of no-where in particular. So I am not entirely dim.
Au Rev ur! XX

Anonymous said...

I've often seen bright stars so Pookie has a point saying that they're not all dim

Jane Harkiss said...

It is, after all a worry - y'know the environment an that. So don't be backwards in coming forwards. Dog shit is pretty mediocre compared to melting ice floes, dont'cha know! XX