New rules on water quality are making some communities consider changing the designation of local bathing beaches. Philippa Jenkins and Kate Helyer report.

BATHING beaches in North Devon will be forced to display signs warning of poor water quality under new EU rules.

From 2016 any designated bathing beaches which fail new quality criteria will have to warn people against entering the water.

Now some communities are considering de-designating their bathing beaches, so they do not have to put up the signs.

Investigations carried out by the Environment Agency suggest the beaches most at risk of being classed as "poor" are Combe Martin, Instow and Ilfracombe's two beaches, Hele and Wildersmouth.

Ilfracombe district councillor Mike Edmunds wants Wildersmouth beach de-designated.

He said: "It's important that we don't have signs saying 'poor water quality' at Wildersmouth, especially in light of the magnificent new design proposals for the seafront. We don't want anything to detract from that."

At Hele, in Ilfracombe, there are hopes work could be done to combat the problems caused by agricultural and urban run off, so it could be classified as sufficient or above, by 2015.

Combe Martin Parish Council wants to tackle the issue of water quality through community awareness.

Chairman Julia Clark, said: "We have worked with the Environment Agency for many years on bathing water quality, and last year set up a working party to look at issues in the village that affect this.

"At present the working party has invited both the school and youth club to design a poster and logo for the Clean Water Beach Campaign we are launching shortly."

Parish councillor, Peter Spencer, said: "Combe Martin has an old fashioned bucket-and-spade feel which relies on people enjoying being in the sea.

"The parish council has put a lot of effort into maintaining the beach and the funds are limited but we can't risk de-designation."

Lynton Town Council strongly objected to the idea of big signs going up near the iconic Rhenish Tower and on Manor Green at Lynmouth, so they will also be going for a de-designation.

District councillor Suzette Hibbert said: "We're not really the sort of a place for bathing. We never have been. You might get a few people crabbing, but we don't get the paddlers and bathers like Woolacombe.

Instow is going for de-designation because the council feels there is little to be done to improve the water's contamination.

The water quality is often out of the council's control during adverse weather.

Michael Green, vice chairman of Instow Parish Council said: "We believe that too few people bathe at Instow for de-designation to be a problem."

And Roger Jacob, council clerk, said: "We are certain with the new criteria we will be de-designated by 2020 anyway so to save us a lot of bad publicity we feel de-designation at this stage is the best move, especially as it looks like Defra will be making the process easier."

In Torridge, Roger Tisdale is the district council's ward member for Westward Ho!

He said: "The beach at Westward Ho! has attained Blue Flag status for seven years in a row.

"We'll be delighted to put up the new required signage which will only serve to underline to our local residents and our many visitors just what a great place Westward Ho! is and that we are up there with the very best beaches in the country."

EA spokesman, Mark Rice, said: "The EA will be doing everything in its power to make sure all beaches pass the new directive."

Last year 92 per cent of the region's waters passed at the highest level, while 97 per cent passed by meeting the lowest criteria, leaving only five bathing waters that failed the requirements including Instow and Combe Martin.