Swim spots fail to meet water quality standards

Swimming spots in the South East are among those which have received a poor water quality rating.

Of 37 sites across England which failed to meet water quality standards, five were found in Kent and West Sussex, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

Swim spots at Deal Castle, Dymchurch and Littlestone in Kent, plus Worthing Beach House and Aldwick Beach in West Sussex, were on the list.

The spots were tested for harmful bacteria by the EA during the official swimming season between May and September.

Worthing Beach House was only added to the EA's list of sites to monitor this year.

This year's results cover the period 2021 to 2024, with the readings for harmful bacteria used to determine the annual classification of each site as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.

Nationally, about one in 12 of England's official swimming spots along coasts, lakes and rivers were failing to meet water quality standards.

The assessment found 37 sites - 8.2% of the total - were rated poor for water quality in 2024, nearly double the 2023 total of 4.3%, and the highest since the current rating system was introduced in 2015.

Heather Robins, a cold water swimmer from Bluetits Swimming Group in Aldwick, near Bognor Regis, said the beach's rating was damaging the local economy.

She said: "Our economy is based on tourism so it impacts the lovely pubs, all the beach huts.

"All the businesses on that part of the beach are being avoided by the tourists all summer because that part of the beach is considered dangerous."

She said this year had been difficult to get out on the water, due to sewage.

"Certainly for swimmers, we just don't go in at all if it has rained in the last 48 hours and this year, that's been nearly all year. It's been a very wet year," Ms Robins said.

Areas which receive a poor rating are investigated to identify sources of pollution and action plans are put in place to try and improve the situation.

Under the current system, a bathing spot receiving a poor rating for five years - as is the case with Tynemouth Cullercoats beach in North Shields - is automatically de-designated, although a consultation is also considering changing that process.

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