A new designated bathing site for the coming season has been named by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It will be inspected for water quality weekly until the end of the bathing season on 30 September.
The designation of Little Shore at Amble, a crescent of sand between the River Coquet and the North Sea, popular with local people, brings the number of bathing spots in the North East to 36. Little Shore is one of 13 new sites throughout England, bringing the total to over 460.
In the North East, 36 bathing sites have now been designated from Spittal, near Berwick in the north to Saltburn in the south. There are places to bathe on every part of the coast – 14 in Northumberland, five in North Tyneside, three in South Tyneside, two in Sunderland, three in County Durham, three in Hartlepool and six in Redcar & Cleveland. The full list can be found here.
Regular testing
The designated sites would be rigorously and regularly tested by the Environment Agency throughout the bathing season, meaning swimmers are better informed about water quality and could swim with greater confidence, said Defra.
The Environment Agency regularly monitored water quality at designated bathing water sites and assessed whether action was needed to cut pollution levels – working with local communities, farmers, and water companies to improve water quality at these locations, said the Department.
“What that means is environmental officers on site every week at each of these locations throughout the summer, taking and assessing water samples, and publishing that information online for the benefit of swimmers.”
Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency, said: “The growing number of designations across the country reflects the importance communities place in their local environment and water quality.
If you’re planning on going open water swimming this summer, I’d advise everyone to get informed – checking water quality and conditions before you go.
“Across the bathing water season, Environment Agency teams will be out conducting over 7,000 tests across 460 locations. Through strong regulation and the right data, we will continue to drive improvements to bathing water quality, working closely with local partners to direct investment and target action in the right places.”
“Positive step forward”
Ben Seal, head of access & environment at Paddle UK said: “The designation of these 13 new bathing sites, is another positive step forward in protecting our precious waters. For the millions of people who love being in, on, and beside the water, access to safe, regularly monitored blue space is vital. This expansion ensures that more communities can be better informed when choosing where and when to access the water.
“Furthermore, the overwhelming public demand for these new designated sites just proves how passionate the public is about being and being active in blue spaces. Together, the increase in designated bathing water sites and the Clean Water Bill represent a historic opportunity to secure healthy, pollution-free waters for everyone to enjoy.”
“Generational reform”
Bathing sites also played a vital role in connecting people with nature, said Defra – bringing important social and health benefits, while helping towns prosper through increased tourism. It delivers on the government’s wider commitment to empower communities to shape how their local environment was protected and enjoyed.
The new designations came alongside recent changes to the bathing water regulations that would modernise the system, helping to ensure it was fit for today and reflected how people used rivers and beaches, said Defra.
Last year, 93% of England’s bathing waters met acceptable standards for swimming, with 87% rated as ‘excellent’ or good’. The new bathing water regulation reforms would allow movement away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to better reflect how people used beaches, lakes and rivers, added the Department. The new designations were in line with the upcoming Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, which would continue momentum on once‑in‑a‑generation reforms to end weak oversight, stop water companies marking their own homework and restore public trust.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said: ”The introduction of these new bathing sites means better monitoring of our waterways, a boost for local tourism, and greater confidence for local swimmers.
Following years of indifference towards bathing waters, this government has expanded the number of sites as part of our overhaul of the water sector. We’re committed to generational reform of our water industry and won’t stop until the job is done.”
* This report is based on a press release from Defra
