27 new bathing sites considered for England as activists highlight sewage dangers
Twenty seven new bathing sites are being considered for England, but campaigners have said that swimming remains dangerous in many areas because of the pathogens caused by sewage dumping.
If all of these sites are granted, it will be the largest ever number of bathing sites in rivers, lakes and coastal areas approved in one year. Activists campaign for bathing water status because it means the government is obliged to test the quality of the water throughout the summer months.
Almost all of the new bathing sites – 22 out of the 27 – are in Tory constituencies. Conservatives have recently suffered in the polls because of a perceived failure to act on sewage pollution. The government is consulting on these new sites in a process that ends on 10 March.
Only three rivers in England have sections designated for swimming, and all of them received a “poor” water quality rating from the Environment Agency last year. Sewage spills and agricultural runoff mean that swimming sites can carry E coli and intestinal enterococci, which would make swimmers ill. Analysis has also found that most applications for bathing status are rejected, and last year just four were designated.
Related: Bathing water status rarely granted in England, analysis finds
James Wallace, CEO of River Action UK, said: “Last year, Defra refused to give reasons for turning down most applications and have failed to punish polluters. We expect the government to approve most or all new applications, and to ensure water companies honour the new status with appropriate investment in their leaky infrastructure, and penalise those that continue to pollute.”
The Liberal Democrats’ environment spokesperson, Tim Farron MP, said: “This is yet another half-baked announcement, which does not ban water firms from dumping sewage into bathing water areas. This can’t be another PR trick by the Conservative party on water quality. Right now, swimmers are getting sick from sewage being piled into bathing water sites.”
The water minister Robbie Moore said: “Many people enjoy spending time in our rivers, lakes, and coastal beaches, and I am very aware of the value they bring in terms of social, health and wellbeing benefits. I want to continue to improve the quality of our bathing waters, which is why we are taking action across the board to drive up standards and hold water companies to account. I encourage all local communities and organisations with an interest to take part in this consultation and have their say.”
The proposed new sites
Church Cliff beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset
Coastguards beach, River Erme, Devon
Coniston boating centre, Coniston Water, Cumbria
Coniston Brown Howe, Coniston Water, Cumbria
Littlehaven beach, Tyne and Wear
Manningtree beach, Essex
Monk Coniston, Coniston Water, Cumbria
River Avon at Fordingbridge, Hampshire
River Cam at Sheep’s Green, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
River Dart estuary at Dittisham, Devon
River Dart estuary at Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon
River Dart estuary at Stoke Gabriel, Devon
River Dart estuary at Warfleet, Dartmouth, Devon
River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset
River Nidd at the Lido leisure park in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
River Ribble at Edisford Bridge, Lancashire
River Severn at Ironbridge, Shropshire
River Severn at Shrewsbury, Shropshire
River Stour at Sudbury, Suffolk
River Teme at Ludlow, Shropshire
River Tone in French Weir Park, Taunton, Somerset
Wallingford beach, River Thames, Berkshire
Derwent Water, Crow Park, Keswick, Cumbria
River Wharfe at Wetherby Riverside, West Yorkshire
Goring beach, Worthing, West Sussex
Worthing Beach House, Worthing, West Sussex
Rottingdean beach, Rottingdean, East Sussex