NO-SWIM warning in Sandgate after wastewater output against the beach

A warning without Swim was issued after a sewage pipe had led to a beach.

The Council in Sandgate between Folkestone and Hythe is expected to remain in place at least tomorrow when tests and examinations take place.

Pictures show brown liquids that drain from a storm.

Southern Water, who is responsible for the pipe, was on site and reports that the leak comes from a nearby sewer.

It is said that it is “confident” that the waste water did not enter the sea and influenced its quality.

In an explanation yesterday, Cllr Tim Prater (Lib Den) said that Sandgate and West Folkestone represents: “Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) Environmental team and an environmental agency (EA) deal with a possible incident with dirt.

“A member of the public contacted her to advise you that a surface water drain compared to the Sandgate Hotel apparently flows the wastewater onto the beach.

“An EA officer and a Southern Water are now on site, and after a few tests, it was confirmed that there seems to be a leak from a sewer that runs in parallel to this storm outflow.

“The reduction work is underway. The storm outflow is blocked and tanker is organized to remove the structure of water.

“EA will keep us up to date with developments.”

FHDC sets up signs and warned the residents of potential pollution.

One spokesman said: “Advice against swimming of the sea in Sandgate was given.

“EA and Southern Water are working to repair a sewage lick that was initiated in the storm outflow failure under Wellington Terrace.

“We support and set signs in the immediate vicinity.”

A spokesman for the southern water added: “We immediately sent the teams to the location.

“We found contaminated water through a surface water drainage that included waste water, and so quickly introduced a number of measures to protect the local environment, including tankers to control the rivers through the area.

“We carried out studies in the region to establish the cause, supported by the CCTV technology, which we suspect is a damaged sewage pipe.

“A sewage pipe leaves a surface water drain so that the samples are low.

“Our teams make good progress in repair.

“The discharge from the surface water failure did not enter the sea, and we are confident that it has not affected.”

Last week the EA carried water tests nearby in Hythe.

On the beach, Lindsay Faulkner, environmental manager at Area Environment, said it is absolutely expected that it maintains its excellent water quality assessment.

She added: “It is really important for us that the locals know their community and their bathing water.

“Everyone can watch the data and then use it to make a well -founded decision about where they want to bathe.”

On the other side of Sandgate, in Dymchurch, the water was described as “bad” in November – the worst rating – that is recommended that the residents are not recommended not to swim in the region.

Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, urged a greater test frequency, so that “black list” beaches can be reported on current results.

Additional reporting from Alex Keir