A record number of wild swimming spots, including Wallingford Beach on the River Thames, have been designated as swimming beaches in England ahead of summer, the government has confirmed.
The Environment Agency will immediately begin monitoring water quality at 27 locations proposed by the government as new beaches during consultations earlier this year.
This will bring the number of facilities across England to 451 for the 2024 swimming season, which runs from May 15 to September 30.
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The Department for the Environment (Defra) has announced that the UK Government will begin a consultation on proposed reforms to the UK's bathing water regulations later this year.
It includes proposed changes to promote improved beach water quality, strengthen monitoring, and provide more flexibility in scheduling the monitoring season.
Defra said it would seek views from the public and stakeholders on expanding the definition of “beach bather” to include a wider range of water users beyond swimmers, such as rowers, kayakers and paddleboarders.
Last year, 96 per cent of UK bath water met the annual minimum standards and 90 per cent was rated 'good' or 'outstanding', Defra said.
But public anger is growing over the state of England's rivers and coastal waters, which are plagued by pollution from sewage outlets and other sources such as agricultural runoff.
The new beaches include more than a dozen river locations, including the River Severn at Ironbridge in Cumbria, several locations in Coniston Waters and one location in Derwent Waters.
These waters are regularly monitored by the Environment Agency, which assesses whether action is needed to reduce pollution levels and works with local communities, farmers and water companies to improve water quality. I'm here.
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Water Minister Robbie Moore announced the introduction of the largest new bathing facility ever, saying: “The value that our bathing water brings to our communities is incredibly valuable, providing social, physical and positive health and wellbeing benefits to those around us.” We are delighted to have approved a further 27 new bathing facilities this year.
“I am committed to further improving the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses it.”
Alan Lovell, Director-General of the Environment Agency, said: “Thanks to strong and targeted regulation by the Environment Agency and good work by partners and local groups, overall bathing water quality has improved significantly over the past decade. “It was done,” he said.
“We know improvements will take time and investment from the water industry, farmers and communities, but where investment is made there is potential to improve standards.”
New beaches include Coastguards Beach in Devon. Goring Beach and Worthing Beach House in West Sussex. Littlehaven Beach, Tyne and Wear. Manningtree Beach, Essex. The River Avon, Fordingbridge, Hampshire. The River Cam, Sheeps Green, Cambridge. The Dart Estuary at Dittisham. Steamer Quay, Stoke Gabriel and Warfleet in Devon. The River Frome, Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset, and the River Tone, French Weir Park. The River Nidd at Ridley Leisure Park in North Yorkshire. The River Ribble at Edithford Bridge in Lancashire. The River Severn at Shrewsbury and the River Teme at Ludlow in Shropshire. River Stour, Sudbury, Suffolk. River Wharf, Wetherby Riverside, West Yorkshire. and Rottingdean Beach in East Sussex.
