Government seeks views on bathing water reforms
Residents and visitors in Havant
are being urged to have their say on proposed changes to how
bathing water quality is monitored and classified.
For the first time since 2013, the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
is looking to change the bathing water regulations that
apply to England’s seas, rivers and lakes.
In November, Defra launched a
consultation on their plans to modernise the current
regulations, and people have until December 23rd to take
part in the consultation before it closes.
Some of the proposed changes
include:
•
Removal of fixed bathing water season dates (which
currently runs from May to September) from the regulations
to allow for a more flexible approach to monitoring,
extending the dates of the bathing season to better reflect
when people use bathing waters.
•
Expanding the legal definition of ‘bathers’ to
include participants in water sports other than swimming,
including paddle boarders and surfers.
•
Further considering water quality and public safety
when applications for new bathing waters are assessed.
•
Introducing multiple testing points at bathing water
sites.
•
Ending the automatic de-designation of bathing water
status after 5 consecutive years of a site being rated
‘poor’, which can damage local tourism and businesses.
Instead, underperforming sites will be individually reviewed
by regulators, taking into account their unique
circumstances.
Defra said the proposed changes
should improve water quality and conditions for cold water
swimmers and other water sports enthusiasts.
Havant Borough Council’s Leader,
Councillor Phil Munday, said: “We know how passionate our
community is about the standard and safety of our beaches
and bathing waters, so we would urge as many people as
possible to take part in this consultation and make sure
their voices are heard.
“As a council, we have committed in
our Corporate Strategy to do all we can to protect the
quality of our local environment. We undertook our own
sampling in Langstone Harbour to get a better picture of the
water quality there as we know that although the harbour is
used all year round by water sports enthusiasts, it is not
currently monitored by Defra or the Environment Agency.
“We welcome this consultation as it
provides real potential for change and for our rivers and
seas to be made safer for more users, all year round.
“I have written to the Secretary of
State for the Environment, Steve Reed MP, in support of
these changes and to offer our help to design and implement
the new regulations to ensure they bring the maximum
benefit.”
To take part in the consultation,
follow the link below:
The
Bathing Water Regulations 2013 - GOV.UK
Page updated:
Monday February 03, 2025