AQW 25276/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 04/11/2021
Answered On Date: 16/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the actions being taken to improve bathing water quality at Ballyholme Beach, Bangor.

Answer:

My Department works in partnership with local councils, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB), NI Water and other bathing water operators to manage our bathing waters and beaches through the Better Beaches Forum Action Plan. The Action Plan focusses on three strands:

Improving water quality;

Improving beach cleanliness, facilities management and signage; and

Keeping the public and media better informed.

NI Water is targeting £15.5M on an extensive programme of upgrades to the wastewater network in the Bangor area to improve coastal water quality, including Ballyholme. My Department is also working closely with relevant stakeholders to address agricultural impacts on Ballyholme bathing water. Since 2017, NIEA inspectors have carried out many farm inspections and pollution investigations to identify and rectify agricultural issues affecting the catchment.