Open water swimming spots set for official status

Open water swimming spots across the North East and Cumbria could soon be officially recognised, in a bid to protect them from pollution.

It would see them being monitored by the Environment Agency.

There has been growing public anger over the state of England's waters, which have been polluted from sewage outlets and other sources.

The government said 96% of bathing waters met minimum annual standards in 2023.

In Cumbria, Derwent Water at Crow Park, Keswick, and Coniston Boating Centre, Coniston Brown Howe and Monk Coniston at Coniston Water, have been proposed as locations.

Littlehaven Beach in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, has also been suggested as one of the 27 sites.

A two-week consultation has been launched, which runs until 10 March.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the sites were chosen based on how many people bathe there, and whether they have suitable facilities, such as toilets.

If a site is designated for open water swimming - also known as wild swimming - it would be monitored and people would be able to see whether it was safe to swim.

Tracy Park swims in Cumbria's lakes every week, and has done for more than four years.

The 57-year-old, from Cockermouth, welcomed the news and said those responsible for pollution should be held to account.

"It's completely unacceptable and often avoidable, so therefore [it is] important they know water is being monitored.

"Everyone is well aware of the physical and mental health benefits, it should be encouraged and supported."

Defra said 90% of the 424 designated bathing waters were rated either "good" or "excellent" last year.

Water minister Robbie Moore said the government wanted to "drive up standards and hold water companies to account".

However, Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Tim Farron, who is also MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, called for firms to be banned from dumping sewage into areas used for bathing.

He said: "Conservative ministers have finally buckled to Liberal Democrat demands for more bathing water sites, but the grim truth is water firms have dumped over 400,000 hours of sewage into swimming spots since 2020.

"The government has yet again been dragged kicking and screaming to take action on water quality."

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