Taking action on pollution in our sea

Blackpool’s coastline is part of who we are. It’s where generations of families have walked, played and paddled. It’s the backdrop to our lives and a source of pride for our town. But under the Conservatives and on the watch of United Utilities, our coastal waters have been shamelessly polluted.

On 6th June, I stood on our beach with Colin Dente, the lead engineer from a British company called Molendotech, to collect a water sample from the sea. We were doing something the government and water companies have failed to do for years – testing our water in real time for the health risks we face every day. Colin has developed a rapid test, called Bactiquick, which gives you a result in just 15 minutes. No labs. No delays. Just clean, fast, honest information.

I wasn’t expecting good news. After everything we’ve seen from United Utilities, I half-expected to be told the water was toxic. But on that day, the water was safe to swim in. We were pleasantly surprised.

But that’s exactly the point. We shouldn’t have to be pleasantly surprised when the sea in Blackpool is safe. It should be the standard, not the exception. And we shouldn’t have to rely on one-off tests from committed individuals and start-ups. We need a system that works for our communities, not against them.

We’ve been kept in the dark for too long. Current testing is too slow and too limited. Last year, Blackpool’s beaches were unsafe for almost 40% of the summer bathing season. There was a full month – during peak holiday season – where not a single day met the safety standard. That’s not just an environmental disaster. It’s a public health crisis and an economic one too. Local families, small businesses, and our tourism industry are all suffering.

Since I was elected in May last year, I’ve made it a personal mission to hold United Utilities to account. I’ve spoken in Parliament about their failures. And I’ve worked to support the brilliant local campaigners who’ve refused to let this issue be swept under the rug.

That’s why I’m proud that on the very same day I was getting my feet wet, the Labour Government’s Water (Special Measures) Act came into force. This new law bans bonuses for water bosses who fail on pollution – and United Utilities is top of that list. Their CEO and CFO will no longer be rewarded for dumping sewage into our seas. It’s justice long overdue.

With Colin Dente, inventor of the Bactiquick rapid test, at Blackpool South beach on 6th June

But passing laws is just the beginning. If we’re going to fix this broken system, we need to give communities the power to monitor and expose the truth themselves. That’s what Molendotech’s Bactiquick device represents – power in our hands. Real-time testing means that we’ll know when our water is safe and when it’s not.

We’re now exploring how we can bring daily testing to Blackpool for the rest of the summer. I’m in active discussions with Molendotech and the brilliant volunteers from Fylde Coast Against Sewage about launching a community-led programme. Because our town deserves real time information.

For me this is personal. I love this town. I love our beaches. And I want to be able to take my son to splash about on the shore this summer. So I will never stop fighting to make our water safe and clean.