Proposed New Public Bathing Sites

[Steve Kenchington]

I see from the BBC News that the Government are proposing thirteen new bathing sites on beaches and rivers across the country. This means that they will be subject to official regular water quality testing. The rivers include the Thames, Swale and H Avon amongst others. Whilst it may mean that there could be less fishing access to these spots during the summer, I feel it may mean that there is a positive knock on effect on the rivers themselves as official data will be available to hold water companies to account. What is the forum membership’s opinion ?

The 13 swimming spots that could become designated for dipping

The government says the plans would increase the number of England's official bathing sites to 464.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Jim Brook]

I agree anything that can help clean up our rivers is worth it even if it restricts angling in some places, will be of benefit in the long run.

 

[David Clewer]

The proposal on the HA in Salisbury is quite high up the river and potentially less susceptible to pollution than the middle and lower reaches. Every little helps though, I guess and it may provide a better idea of where any pollution is coming from.


Dave

 

[Chris Jones]

I doubt that many anglers would be affected if the Falls at Richmond became a designated bathing spot. The constant footfall down there makes it a largely unfished spot anyway. The only real shame is that it's upstream of the bigger water treatment plants on the river.

 

[Phil Nixon]

There is a public bathing site on the HA at Fordingbridge park, my opinion is that it won't make ANY difference to the water quality, the EA already know the water quality.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

In terms of the bigger picture, it's probably a good thing. The more people who have a stake in our rivers being cleaned the better, but more education is needed on the impacts of sunscreen and insect repellents which can be very damaging.

 

[Phil Heaton]

Not something to celebrate in my opinion I know of a couple of places where open water swimmers now have priority over other activities. The public slipway on Loch Ken has now been closed to boat anglers and is now a bathers access point. A local boat (as in kayaking) club 40 acre lake has been taken over by open water swimmers (the majority of members are now swimmers) and kayakers or boaters cannot access the water while swimmers have their twice daily, 7 days per week sessions. Anglers are restricted to non swimming areas and at times have to remove rods from the water during ‘training’ sessions.
I’ve left the club due to these issues, the swimmers were supposed to have set routes but after completing a set number of hours on the water are allowed to go ‘off piste’. They quite often swim around then stop for a natter where someone is fishing, with around 1000 paying swim members, anglers complaints are just about ignored.