Scarborough's Grand Hotel included in investigations into bacteria affecting South Bay water quality

Scarborough’s Grand Hotel has been included in investigations examining potential sources of bacteria affecting South Bay bathing water quality.

Yorkshire Water has explored “drainage connectivity with the Grand Hotel” as part of its investigation into poor water quality at Scarborough’s South Bay.

A report to coastal councillors said Yorkshire Water, North Yorkshire Council, and the Environment Agency had carried out beach inspections and environmental investigations as part of wider efforts to improve water quality in the town and along the coast.

However, the report did not suggest the landmark hotel was responsible for pollution, nor did it identify any problems with the property’s drainage system.

Britannia Hotels, which owns the Grand Hotel, declined to comment.

The report stated that “upwelling” had been identified on South Bay beach in an area considered to have a high bacteria risk.

Speaking to councillors at a meeting last week, Yorkshire Water’s strategic partnerships manager for bathing waters, Miles Cameron, said improving bathing water quality required agencies to investigate a range of possible pollution sources.

He said: “We’re doing a lot of work in that space to understand more and more where those sources of bacteria come from, whether it’s our assets, whether it’s to do with wildlife or otherwise.”

Mr Cameron added that while Yorkshire Water had a significant role to play, improving bathing water quality required a joint effort from multiple organisations.

He said: “Everybody plays a part. Yorkshire Water, of course, has a big part to play, but so does everybody else.”

The water company told councillors that seabirds remained one of the main concerns affecting water quality at South Bay.

According to the report, beach walkovers carried out by Yorkshire Water, North Yorkshire Council and the Environment Agency found that “seabirds remain [the] primary concern on South Bay in particular”.

The finding is in contrast with a Durham University study last year, which suggested Scalby Beck as a source of nitrogen pollution in Scarborough that is carried south by marine currents towards Scarborough South Bay.

The isotope study found no evidence that bird waste was contributing significantly to the nitrogen load in the seaweed.

Mr Cameron said the long-term ambition was to achieve an “excellent” bathing water rating across the Yorkshire coast.

He told the committee: “Whitby is excellent, I’m pleased to say. We want to keep it that way.”

He added: “We want Scarborough North and South to be the same. That is the aspiration.”

Yorkshire Water’s wider report outlined up to £150m of investment planned in Scarborough between 2025 and 2030, including wastewater treatment upgrades, improvements to combined sewer overflows and further investigations into potential pollution sources affecting local bathing waters.