To cancel UK holiday after watching Dirty Business

[Neilsparentsarecomingfortea]

I have booked a week away in Devon for partners 50th birthday. Lovely cottage with a hot tub.
However, since watching dirty business I am considering cancelling (will lose 3rd of booking - which isn't money I can easily write off) as I don't feel it's worth risking going on the UK beaches anymore. If my family were to become ill I would never forgive myself.
I am absolutely furious that EA have allowed this kind of corruption to continue for so long. And that the water companies are polluting our rivers and seas at such an alarming rate. How do they sleep at night?

Don't even get me started on the impact to our wildlife.
WWYD?
I have downloaded the surfers against sewage app but genuinely worried to allow my child onto the beach in future after seeing what happened to poor Heather and her family. Considering selling my campervan.

Since you ask,

https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/50098-support-for-nationalising-utilities-and-public-transport-has-grown-significantly-in-last-seven-years

Of course, the pittance they were sold for is long gone, and the (mostly foreign) owners have looted the revenue and loaded them up with debt.

Looking on the bright side, there are not many eager buyers wanting to bid up the price of a bankrupt company at risk of enormous fines for failing to meet regulatory standards.

YANBU

I live in the SW and people are always seeing raw sewage on the beaches washed up from the tide. It’s real. Sewage discharges on dry days as well.

I can only assume posters saying YABU didn’t see the TV programme.

I checked the SAS app last summer in the dry weather and most of the SW beaches had discharges.

Just don't go in the water.

There is so much more to do in the Devon than just going to the beach - in fact, I think you could have an amazing time without once getting your feet sandy, @Neilsparentsarecomingfortea.

I am sure there must be fresh water wild swimming spots in Devon and Cornwall, plus so many other fascinating things to do and see - I am sure you would have an absolutely wonderful holiday.

We used to go to Cornwall for family holidays and, as a family, we have the worst luck with weather, so very rarely got a nice enough day for the beach, but still had fantastic holidays.

I haven’t seen the documentary, but I read about it in the newspaper. Am I right in understanding it relates to events 25 years ago?

I haven’t seen it either, @Genevieva, but even if this is true, the release of sewage into the sea is still a big problem - it’s not something that just happened years ago - it still is happening.

It tells the story of a fatality from that time . But that's just one fragment of the documentary

Our local rivers (coastal and drain the sea) all had well over 200 days /year of sewage discharges in the last 12 months.

This is a current issue.

Most well informed local people I know have all stopped sea swimming and watersports even though they love them

I don't know why people are saying it's silly or dramatic to cancel or that you somehow owe business owners in Devon something. Where you go on holiday is entirely up to you and you can cancel for any reason whatsoever. If you intended to spend a lot of time on the beach and now won't, and that will affect your holiday, then cancel.

Please sign the petition by Surfers Against Sewage. I'm not allowed to post link here but search for 38 degrees and End The Sewage Pollution Scandal.

For anyone interested there's a petition here:

https://www.sas.org.uk/

You can look up what the water quality is like where you are going

Stick to paddling on the beach and building sand castles and wash off afterwards, there is plenty of lovely countryside to explore apart from the seaside. And you have the hot tub.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius @Genevieva

Watch it on catchup on Channel 4.
It got 5* reviews from practically every national newspaper.

I am really fed up the Green Party have hardly mentioned it. This is what they used to be all about.

It is a national scandal.

The1915 film Vacation where grown up Rusty Griswold swims in remote hot springs comes to mind.

We can see Wales from Lundy (Devon) so I’m not sure the floating fecal matter will neatly acknowledge jurisdictions as you imagine

I live in the South Hams. Been here five years. The one time DD swam in a river she was sick afterwards. None of us has ever been ill from the sea. We're in it all summer, every summer, as are many visiting friends. Definitely use the app and avoid rivers, but otherwise enjoy it.

Our dog used to swim in the river but after watching the programme I’ve stopped him doing it. There have been discharges this week and it seems it’s pretty regular. It is absolutely horrific. The poor Preen family and all the others affected.

I'm somebody who is really concerned about the sewerage problem in our water and I think you're over reacting.

Find what sources you can that tell you how safe the water on a particular beach is on any given day, and don't swim in it if you're still concerned.

I no longer swim in the sea, (and I acknowledge that I'm OTT, but it's because I'm just not fussed); as long as it isn't a high risk area I go barefoot on the sand and paddle, but you can also enjoy the beach with your shoes on if that helps you to feel better about it. Wash your feet/legs off properly when you get back home and stick clothing and towels straight in the wash, and you'll have done much more than most people do.

You are overreacting - yes it's shit (pun intended) but nothing new. I'd personally be more worried about the hot tub at your accommodation - nothing worse imo.

Have signed and shared the petition but thank you 🙂 as it's useful for those on this thread that haven't.
We are beach goers, whatever the weather because we LOVE the sea and all the nature that goes with it. We get right in there - it's one of life's pleasures. I suppose ignorance was bliss but no-one should have to watch their child die in such an horrific and avoidable way.
I think it resonates with me as we've frequently been to dawlish warren.

Do you work for the environment agency?

It absolutely is a national scandal!!
The green party are talking about in now... Nevermind talking the government need to take immediate action! Taking back ownership of all water authorities charging them for the clean up and taking criminal action against those in charge - including the EA!!

I don’t think you are being unreasonable at all. It certainly has put me off having a UK beach holiday.
People saying there are other things to do in Devon & Cornwall etc, there are but visiting attractions cost money & why travel that far if you can’t enjoy the beach.

But what I'm trying to work out is whether it is actually worse.

I have been swimming in the sea since the 70s and now live near the coast, and have not noticed a deterioration in quality.

I do use apps to avoid swimming when there is a warning of poor quality, but what I don't know is whether the water was poor quality before the great surge in interest in open water swimming and the availability of apps.

Have you watched the series?