River Thames in London gets first official bathing spot on Friday

The Thames at Ham in south-west London has been designated as a new monitored river bathing water area for the start of the bathing season. The designation follows evidence gathered by campaigners showing thousands of people swim in the river throughout the year. Similar new monitored bathing areas have been designated across England, including sites on the River Yealm, River Fowey, River Dee, and River Swale, plus sea and meadow locations. The change is intended to improve monitoring of waterways, support local tourism, and increase confidence for swimmers. The designations are part of expanded bathing water coverage under reforms to the water sector, aiming to drive cleanup efforts and address pollution sources.

"The Thames at Ham, in south-west London, has been designated as a new river bathing water area after campaigners gathered evidence to show thousands of people use the river for swimming throughout the year. Marlene Lawrence, the founder of the Teddington Bluetits, which has more than 2,000 members, put in the bathing water application alongside her colleagues. This is amazing for the river and for the many people who enjoy it, she said. We want bathing water status to be a driver of keeping the River Thames clean and it will be fantastic to have this part of the river designated."

"Other locations which have been designated as bathing water areas include a tidal inlet just off the River Yealm in the south Devon; part of the River Fowey in Lostwithiel, Cornwall; the River Dee at Sandy Lane, Chester; a sea swimming area at Little Shore, Amble, in Northumberland; Pangbourne Meadow in Berkshire, which inspired the novel The Wind in the Willows; and the River Swale in Richmond, Yorkshire."

"Water minister Emma Hardy said: The introduction of these new bathing sites means better monitoring of our waterways, a boost for local tourism and greater confidence for local swimmers. Following years of indifference towards bathing waters, this government has expanded the number of sites as part of our overhaul of the water sector. We're committed to generational reform of our water industry and won't stop until the job is done."

"Campaigners began fighting for bathing water status for rivers six years ago under the EU-derived bathing water directive, in an attempt to drive a cleanup. Bathing water designations were until then limited to coastal waters and lakes. But rivers are suffering from a toxic cocktail of sewage discharge from water companies, forever chemicals and road and agric"

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