Preparatory work is under way for £5 million bathing water investment in Torbay

Torbay Council is working with South West Water on preparatory work which has started ahead of delivering £5 million worth of projects to further improve bathing water quality at Torbay’s beaches.

Engineers working for South West Water will be carrying out surveys to map ground levels and underground utility apparatus, and sinking boreholes to establish ground conditions. The results of the surveys will help South West Water design projects to ensure Torbay’s beaches reach the more stringent standards of the European Union’s revised Bathing Water Directive, which comes into force in 2015.

Surveyors will be working in and around Cockington Lane, Abbey Park, Carey Parade and Old Mill Lane in Torquay and Littlegate Road in Paignton for the next six weeks.

Cllr Ray Hill, Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Highways, Transport and Environment, said that: “This project will help Torbay to respond to the higher standards required by the revised Bathing Water Directive. The quality of Torbay’s award-winning beaches and super water quality are essential for the benefit and enjoyment of our residents and to attract visitors to the bay. With more people staying in the UK for their holidays it is also important that Torbay is able to compete with other resorts for valuable tourism income.”