Dozens of new wild swimming spots in the UK have been designated as swimming beaches ahead of the summer and will benefit from regular water quality monitoring, the government has announced.
A total of 27 new bathing locations will be designated ahead of the 2024 bathing season, which will be monitored from Wednesday 15 May to Thursday 30 September.
This is the highest number of new baths designated in a year, bringing the total number of baths across England to 451.
Most of these are along the coast, but there are also several lakes and rivers. This shortfall is about to begin to be addressed with the new designation, as the new bathing area includes more than a dozen rivers across the country.
These include sites on the River Dart in Devon, the River Nidd in North Yorkshire, the River Frome in Somerset and the River Ribble in Lancashire.
Water Minister Robbie Moore said: “These popular swimming spots will be regularly monitored to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on water quality and action will be taken if minimum standards are not met. I will be able to do that.''
Activists and swimming groups welcomed the announcement, as areas that have been designated in the past have often, but not always, seen improved water quality.
At the same time, people will know for the first time how polluted the water is in these 27 locations, so they can decide whether it's still okay to bathe.
Designated baths are the only places in the UK where bacteria levels in open water are monitored and the data made publicly available.
Last year, 96 per cent of UK bath water met minimum standards and 90 per cent was classified as 'good' or 'excellent'.
However, although the majority of coastal waters are of good quality, the record of rivers granted bathing status remains poor.
All sections of the UK's three rivers that have been designated for swimming so far were rated as 'poor' in government water quality statistics in December.
These sites are based along the River Wharf at Ilkley, Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxfordshire, and along the Deben Estuary at Waldringfield.
Designated bathing water points 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. We are working on improvements.
The water is tested for E. coli and enterococcus, two types of bacteria that can cause stomach upset. These bacteria usually enter water from sewage or animal waste. Testing is done on a regular basis (usually weekly).
If bathing water is classified as “poor,” a “No Bathing Advisory” symbol must be posted on-site and online, along with information about the source of contamination and what steps are being taken to clean it. there is. This doesn't mean you can't swim and the site remains open, but you may be at increased risk of getting sick.
“The Outdoor Swimming Association welcomes the designation of 27 beaches, particularly in many inland locations, and the positive decision by the government and landowners to allow outdoor swimming. It helps us assess risk,” said Imogen Radford from the Outdoor Swimming Association. I.
“Beach designation is critical in helping to clean up popular swimming spots, especially as a result of detailed monitoring and improvement goals,” the association's website states.
However, the magazine notes that “the situation could be even better.” England's 2022 bathing water quality results rank it 25th for excellent results out of 30 countries that specify and monitor bathing waters (if the country was still part of the EU). It is also the only EU country with a high rate of poor outcomes.
“The UK also has a lower number of designated swimming beaches and far fewer inland waters and rivers,” it added.
Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “We welcome the new swimming designation and the increased information and confidence it will bring to those looking to enjoy England's rivers and coasts.” Stated.
But he said much work still needed to be done, particularly in the area of rivers.
“Today's bathing water announcement is useful information in the water. The government will need to do more to restore Britain's seas to a healthy state,” he said. I.
The new designation comes amid growing public anger over the state of England's coastal waters and rivers, which are particularly plagued by pollution from sewage outlets and other sources such as agricultural runoff.
Water companies across England spilled sewage 464,056 times in 2023, but only 14 per cent of England's rivers are classified as being in good ecological condition, according to the latest official data. That's what it means.
There are 86 designated baths in Scotland, 109 in Wales and 26 in Northern Ireland. This announcement does not relate to bathing waters in these areas of the UK, which are being considered separately by the competent authorities.
The 27 newly designated beaches are as follows.
- Church Cliff Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Coastguards Beach, River Elme, Devon
- Coniston Boat Centre, Coniston Water, Cumbria
- Coniston Brown Howe, Coniston Water, Cumbria
- Derwentwater at Crow Park, Keswick, Cumbria
- Goring Beach, Worthing, West Sussex
- Littlehaven Beach, Tyne and Wear
- Manningtree Beach (Essex)
- Monk Coniston, Coniston Water, Cumbria
- River Avon, Fordingbridge, Hampshire
- River Cam, Sheeps Green, Cambridgeshire
- Dart Estuary, Dittisham, Devon
- River Dart Estuary at Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon
- River Dart Estuary, Stoke Gabriel, Devon
- Dart Estuary, Warfleet, Dartmouth, Devon
- River Frome, Farley Hungerford, Somerset
- River Nidd at Ridley Leisure Park, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
- River Ribble at Edithford Bridge, Lancashire
- River Severn, Ironbridge, Shropshire
- River Severn, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- River Stour, Sudbury, Suffolk
- River Teme, Ludlow, Shropshire
- River Tone, French Weir Park, Taunton, Somerset
- River Wharf at Wetherby Riverside, High Street, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
- Rottingdean Beach, Rottingdean, East Sussex
- Wallingford Beach, River Thames, Berkshire
- Worthing Beach House, Worthing, West Sussex
