Calls for the Environment Agency to conduct water tests all year round
It's after they stop their routine tests on Tuesday
A campaign group from Whitstable has criticised the environment agency after they stopped their routine water tests.
They came to an end on Tuesday, with tests are only being conducted during bathing season, which runs between May and September.
However, SOS Whitstable claim that pollution is higher during the winter with more sewage being dumped due to storms and heavier rainfall.
Catherine Chapman is a volunteer for the group, and today she was conducting her own tests which will be sent off to Canterbury City Council for review.
This is done once a week and she said: "It's backwards that the Environment Agency don't conduct tests during the winter because we want them to be looking after our environment.
"During the winter there tends to be worse weather, a lot more rain and potentially more release and therefore probably more release, which is when we would need testing the most.
"There is no day off from pollution for the environment and it's a real shame that it's obviously not a priority and this needs to change. We need the EA to be able to hold these big companies accountable.
"We want to know what is going on, we want to know what is happening when there are releases. The EA, even in bathing season, don't test very often."
In response, a Defra spokesperson said: “This Government has reset the water sector to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.
“We recognise there have been changes in how people use bathing waters since the regulations were introduced over ten years ago, and will continue to keep our regulations under review.”
In response, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: "During the bathing water season, we take more than 7,000 samples at 451 bathing waters to provide people with water quality information to make informed choices on when and where to swim.
“This report set out to explore climate impacts on UK beaches, rather than year-round testing, However, it showed that all locations except one maintained a water quality standard of 'sufficient' or higher over the winter.
“We will continue to work closely with the agriculture sector, water companies and local communities to ensure the highest standard of bathing waters for the public."