People warned not to swim at beach over bacteria fears

PEOPLE are being advised not to take a dip off a popular Llandudno beach. Councillors sounded the alarm after being alerted to the presence of faecal bacteria off West Shore beach.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

Figures from Surfers Against Sewage show there have been more than 50 discharges from the area's Dale Road storm overflow in the last three months. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) monitors the waters for pollution and Conwy councillors were this week updated on its findings.

After seeing them, Cllr Louise Emery, of Llandudno’s Gogarth Ward, went online to warn locals and visitors: “Don’t swim at West Shore!”

She added: “I received notification from the council this afternoon that recent bathing water samples are not up to standard and people are advised not to swim off the West Shore beach.

“Signs should be already down there but please pass the message onto your networks. The council will be updated via Natural Resources Wales when more water samples are taken.”

According to Gogarth Mostyn representative Cllr Harry Saville, sampling revealed “high levels” of intestinal Enterococci. As bacteria that live in animals, including humans, their presence in the Conwy estuary indicates possible contamination by faecal waste.