Plans to more than double number of inland bathing sites

Three new inland bathing water sites have been proposed for designation, which if approved would bring the total number of sites to five.

Anglian Water has submitted proposals for two locations in Rutland Water, a reservoir between Leicester and Peterborough owned and managed by Anglian.

Site surveys carried out as part of the application process indicate thousands of visitors use the Skyes Lane and Whitwell Creek locations at Rutland.

A third bathing site in Anglian’s region has been proposed for designation at the River Deben in Suffolk. An environmental group called Save the Deben Campaign applied for a stretch of the river to become a bathing site.

The first inland site to be designated was at Ilkely in West Yorkshire, which Yorkshire Water has directed investment to improve the catchment to ensure the location meets water quality standards.

A second location at Port Meadow in Oxford became designated last year. Water companies have five years to bring the water up to the requisite quality.

Anglian pledged to increase public access to bathing water sites as part of its commitments to river health, which promised to ensure 90% of the population will have a bathing site within one hour of their home.

Last year, the company said it was supporting applications for designated sites to be added on the River Cam and Waveney also.

Robin Price, director of quality and environment at Anglian, said: “A key part of Get River Positive was to create more opportunities for everyone to enjoy our region’s rivers, so we’re pleased that today three out of the four sites put forward for public consultation are in our region.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in wild swimmers at our Rutland Water reservoir in recent years so we’re delighted that our applications for designation at both Whitwell Creek and Sykes Lane Bathing Beach are progressing. Achieving designation at both of these sites is a great way to promote open water swimming and provide our region with access to a safe place to do.

“As part of our Get River Positive pledges, we are also working with other bathing groups wishing to apply for designation at their local river. We were happy to see the site at Waldringfield on the River Deben also be put forward for consultation. Nonetheless we share in the disappointment of the Save the Deben group that Woodbridge has not been taken forward. We are still fully committed to supporting their work at Woodbridge to enable a re-application.”

Applications are ordinarily lodged by local authorities and must include user surveys, information on facilities, and evidence of a public consultation.

Once designated, each site will be routinely tested by the Environment Agency to ensure the water quality meets standards. The annual classification would reflect the result of these tests.