A sewage spill has forced the closure of St Mawes harbour on Cornwall’s Roseland peninsula – a cherished seaside retreat long favoured by the Royal Family.
The picturesque fishing village, where the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother regularly brought the young Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret for coastal holidays, shut its harbour on Monday after untreated sewage poured into the water for between two and five hours.
A burst pipe on Sunday evening was responsible for the discharge, which transformed the harbour’s typically pristine waters into a murky green.
The St Mawes Pier and Harbour Company warned visitors to steer clear of all contact with the seawater for “a minimum of 48 hours” following the incident, while the Environment Agency confirmed that sewage was being removed by tanker as South West Water worked to repair the damaged main.
Read Also: M25 motorway update to impact millions of drivers near Heathrow and Gatwick airports
Separately, swimmers were warned to stay out of the water at Polstreath Beach, located roughly 18 miles along the coast near Mevagissey.
Agency officers who attended the site verified the presence of raw sewage. “We’ve collected water samples and photographic evidence and are continuing our investigation,” the EA stated.
South West Water is currently investigating the pollution source at Polstreath, with the Environment Agency pledging to “continue to monitor the situation, work with SWW to stop the pollution, and keep the public informed”.
Water companies across England have exceeded permitted sewage discharge limits at 65 bathing sites since the season officially began on May 15, with hundreds of people reportedly falling ill as a consequence.
Figures compiled by Surfers Against Sewage reveal that sewage has been released near designated bathing waters for a staggering 116,000 hours during that period.
Jo Morley, the campaign group’s head of campaigns, condemned what she called “the same classic water company behaviour – years of prioritising payouts over pipes, whilst we risk swimming in sewage.”
“Families should not have to give up a day on the beach or risk their health on holiday because bosses have put greed and profits ahead of upgrading infrastructure. It’s a public health crisis, and completely unacceptable,” she added.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to addressing the sewage emergency by placing water firms under greater public oversight.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS
- Historian who was honoured with an OBE by the King told to ‘reject award because he is black’
- Prince Edward’s former girlfriend reveals why relationship was ‘never going to work’
- Buckingham Palace unveils new lifts as £369m refurbishment nears completion
It marks a difficult period for South West Water, which faces sentencing this week after admitting guilt on 18 counts of water pollution across Devon and Cornwall. Those offences, spanning a six-year window from January 2015 to July 2021, occurred at five locations: Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, Polperro and Plymouth.
Chris Turner, harbour master for St Mawes Pier, expressed his frustration at the impact on families and businesses at the height of summer, but added: “We are very proud of the normally excellent water quality in beautiful St Mawes.”
The Environment Agency confirmed that no further discharges were taking place but said daily water quality sampling would continue, with results shared with local authorities to ensure residents and visitors receive current guidance.
St Mawes has long held a special place in royal affections. The Queen Mother and her daughters would frequently arrive at the sheltered harbour aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, staying at Penolva – a private waterfront residence constructed by her close companion Dick Wilkins, boasting panoramic ocean views and its own slipway.
The King and Queen became regular visitors during their years as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, while the Prince and Princess of Wales have recently holidayed there with their children. Diana, Princess of Wales, is also said to have stayed in the village following her separation.
Often dubbed the Saint Tropez of England, this tiny settlement of fewer than 700 residents attracts a glittering roster of famous faces, among them Kate Winslet, Claudia Schiffer and Pierce Brosnan.
Property values surged 48 per cent during lockdown, with average prices surpassing £1.3million according to Zoopla.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
