ENVIRONMENT spokesman Cllr Mark Anderson is being called on to report to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councillors about sewage discharges into the sea from local beaches.

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee would also like to hear from the water companies and environment agency.

BCP Council planning committee chairman Cllr David Kelsey said the issue needed to be tackled as soon as possible.

“We rely so heavily on tourism for the progress of this conurbation. It is fundamentally the most important business function that we have in the area…we need to look at this as a matter of urgency. We need to have answers to questions and Cllr Anderson in his role in the environment needs to pull his finger out and come and give us a very full and detailed report on this,” he said.

Cllr Vikki Slade said the issue was about a lack of investment which had led to pollution and said the questions she and other councillors had been asking about Poole Harbour were making slow progress: “We’re not happy with what we are getting (in response),” she said.

“It could offer reassurance for residents and visitors.”