Four Cumbrian locations have been designated as bathing waters by the Government.
Coniston Boating Centre, Coniston Brown Howe and Monk Coniston at Coniston Water and Derwentwater at Crow Park are among 27 sites revealed today.
The designation means they will immediately benefit from regular water quality monitoring and the new sites will take the total number of bathing waters to 451 across England – the highest number to date.
The Environment Agency regularly monitors water quality at designated bathing water sites and assesses whether action is needed to cut pollution levels – working with local communities, farmers, and water companies to improve water quality at these locations.
The Government will also launch a consultation later this year on proposals to reform the bathing water regulations for England.
The proposed changes will drive work to improve bathing water quality, enhance monitoring and enable more flexibility around the dates of the bathing water monitoring season.
For example, proposals will include increasing monitoring outside of the bathing water season and preventing automatic dedesignation of existing bathing water sites.
Defra will also seek views on extending the definition of bathers to include a wider range of water users, such as rowers, kayakers and paddle boarders.
Water Minister Robbie Moore said: “The value our bathing waters bring to local communities is incredibly valuable – providing social, physical and positive health and wellbeing benefits to people around the country – and I am pleased to have approved a further 27 new bathing water sites for this year.
“These popular swimming spots will now undergo regular monitoring to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on the quality of the water and enable action to be taken if minimum standards aren’t being met.
“I am fully committed to seeing the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes rise further for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses them.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that Coniston has been awarded bathing water status.
In March last year, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs rejected bids for bathing water status for Coniston.
However, Coniston Parish Council resubmitted its bid which was finally given the green light.
According to the Environment Agency, sewage was discharged into Coniston for 3,389 hours last year.
Mr Farron said: “It’s great news that the Government have finally U-turned and decided to grant bathing water status to Coniston.
“This decision is down to the tireless efforts of the local community in Coniston, especially Coniston Parish Council and local Lib Dem councillor Suzanne Pender who have been working so hard on this for several years.
“The Government now needs to go much further and stop sewage being pumped into bathing water sites, so Coniston can be protected from pollution in the years to come.”
- West Cumbria Rivers Trust is celebrating its successful application for Derwentwater by screening an exclusive free preview of the documentary Rave on for the Avon at Keswick’s Alhambra cinema on Wednesday June 5 at 7.30pm. The film follows a local community’s fight to gain bathing water status for their treasured bathing spot in a campaign against increases in sewage releases and pollution. It also explores the importance of rivers in modern life.
