Swim England Open Water Swimming Hub
Swim England writes to Government in support of bathing water applications
March 1, 2024Swim England has written to the Government in support of bathing water applications at 27 more sites across the country.
The national governing body’s ambition is to see 200 more official bathing water sites across the country by 2030 in an effort to improve water quality and increase access to outdoor swimming opportunities for more people.
People can take part in the consultation being run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by emailing [email protected].
The deadline for submissions is Sunday 10 March.
Philip Brownlie, head of public affairs at Swim England, said: “More and more people are enjoying the many benefits of outdoor swimming and Swim England has been campaigning for the creation of many more official bathing waters.
“We support these applications and pay tribute to the individuals and groups who have worked so hard to submit them.
“Such a designation can be a helpful vehicle for enhanced monitoring which can act as a catalyst to improve water quality, as well as sending a clear statement that these blue spaces should be enjoyed.”
The sites applying for designation are:
- Church Cliff Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Coastguards Beach, River Erme, Devon
- Coniston Boating Centre, Coniston Water, Cumbria
- Coniston Brown Howe, Coniston Water, Cumbria
- Derwent Water, Cumbria
- Goring Beach, Worthing, West Sussex
- 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
- River Wharfe at Wetherby, West Yorkshire
You can find a link to the consultation by clicking here. Alternatively, a suggested email is below for people wishing to make their own submission but please do add your own individual reasons as to why outdoor swimming is so important to you.
If you are interested in applying for bathing water designation in a stretch of water near you, then Swim England and Surfers Against Sewage are hosting a webinar on 26 March to talk through the process and support available.
To register your interest for the webinar, please click here.
Suggested email
Dear Bathing Water Team
I am writing in support of all the 27 applications listed below as part of DEFRA’s consultation.
Outdoor swimming, and wider recreational use of our blue spaces has a hugely positive impact on people’s physical and mental wellbeing as well as helping strengthen the bond between participants and the local environment.
Millions enjoy outdoor swimming each year and its popularity continues to grow. Barriers to outdoor swimming remain concerns around water quality and access to outdoor swimming opportunities.
I write in support of all 27 applications for the following reasons:
- the public should have easy access to a bathing water
- I think there would be benefits for the local community
- I think there is local demand for a new bathing water
- I think it would help protect nature and wildlife
- I think there would be physical and mental health benefits for the public
- I think the water quality would be improved
By designating these 27 sites you can provide a catalyst for improving water quality as well as sending a clear message that these blue spaces are here to be accessed and enjoyed.