Reforms to modernise bathing waters quality rules

The government has announced reforms which it says will modernise "outdated" regulations around bathing water quality.

It said the changes included getting rid of fixed bathing seasons which means more flexibility around the times water is tested and introducing multiple monitoring points at each bathing location.

It also said it was expanding the definition of a bather to include those taking part in water sports like surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking.

But Marcia Fletcher, a wild swimmer in Exmouth, said there was a lot of frustration and anger about the quality of bathing water.

She said: "We risk coming to the seaside to enjoy the water.

"There is a lot of frustration and a lot of anger and probably a bit of apathy too as well because we have been promised so much by South West Water (SWW) that it is going to be cleaned up and it has not happened."

A spokesperson for SWW said bathing water quality remained one of its "main priorities" and it was enhancing its bathing water programme through targeted year-round water quality.

The firm also said it was intensifying its efforts to address storm overflows and trialling year-round sampling at 14 bathing water sites.

Kayaker Richard Stokes said people making use of the bathing waters in Exmouth were getting unwell from "stuff in the water".

Mr Stokes said: "There's so much use here and a huge amount of kite surfing here in Exmouth.

"The point is whatever you do whether you are paddling, kayaking or surfboarding, you are picking up a lot of the stuff on your hands or on your gloves and touching your face.

"There are a lot of people getting ill - you are picking up stomach bugs because of some of the stuff in the water."

Water minister Emma Hardy said bathing water sites were the "pride of local communities across the country".

"But safety and cleanliness is paramount, and we must go further and faster to open up our waterways for families to enjoy," said Ms Hardy.

"The government is upgrading outdated regulations so they are fit for purpose.

"It is also why we are re-opening applications for new bathing sites in England, so that more people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of our beautiful waters."

But Kirsty Davies, community water quality officer at Surfers Against Sewage, raised concerns over the plans.

She said some of the reforms could be prove to be unrealistic and "too expensive".

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