Rotting seaweed and bacteria causing smell at Avon Beach

Residents complained of the smell to Wessex Water and the Environment Agency, with the former saying it is down to rotting seaweed and the latter saying there is high levels of bacteria and seaweed issues.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency was contacted by residents at Avon Beach reporting an unpleasant smell coming from the beach.

“An officer attended and sampled a surface water drain which discharges into the sea near the beach car park. There was an unpleasant smell when the drain cover was lifted and sample results indicated elevated levels of bacteria.

“Wessex Water’s ‘streamclean’ team are now investigating the possible cause.

“Also causing an odour locally is the large amount of rotting seaweed washed up onto the beach by the recent easterly winds."

However, one man, who lives just yards from the beach, said they’d never smelt this before and didn’t believe it was seaweed.

The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I contacted the Environment Agency and in a very sufficient way they investigated the surface water contamination.

“He confirmed there is some sort of contamination in the surface water which is resulting in a collection of bugs in the seawater.

“What they now have to do is track back along the surface water until they find the problem.

“The smell was so strong, we had to keep all our doors and windows closed, it certainly didn’t feel like a seaweed problem.

“We have lived there a long time, we are tuned in to the tidal conditions, this is different. It smelt like something more wretched.”

The ward councillor for Mudeford, Lesley Dedman, said she was taking the issue “very seriously”.

She told the Daily Echo: “Whatever it is, I certainly am taking it seriously. There has been a lot of residents complaining that there is a problem in the water, their children feel unwell.

“The smell was unbearable. It was nauseating, residents haven’t wanted to go outside.”

The restaurant The Noisy Lobster, located on the beach, said it was still busy and described the smell as "unfortunate".

A spokesperson said: "It is out of our control. It's not been too horrendous, some days are good, some days are bad.

"It has not affected us too badly, we still have diners outside. It is more of a problem with the locals.

"It is just one of those problems, it's unfortunate it's Avon Beach but it's out of our control."

A spokesperson for Wessex Water said the problem was down to the seaweed and was “common” at this time of year.

They said: “We’ve visited the area to investigate reports of a foul odour and found no issues with our sewerage network or assets.

“When seaweed collects close to the shore it can create odours while it decomposes. While unpleasant, this is a temporary problem and not harmful to the environment.”