Fordingbridge bathing site water rated as 'poor' quality
A local campaign group say they're not surprised by the result
There's been a setback for water bathers in Fordingbridge after tests on the River Avon's water quality revealed it is 'poor'.
Fordingbridge Avon Bathers (FAB), who had campaigned for the town's beach area to reach bathing status, say the results aren't a shock to them.
The section of the River Avon is among three new bathing locations in the South West this year which have all been classified as 'poor' - based on testing samples from their first bathing season.
The Environment Agency say there are numerous reasons for the poor water quality, but add that they're committed to making improvements - but it will take time, teamwork and community commitment.
Jim Flory, area environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “It is too easy to point the finger of blame solely at water companies or farmers. The unpopular truth is the sources of deterioration are often many. There are no quick fixes.
“New bathing waters came from massive community effort. It will take the same levels of commitment and effort to raise them to the minimum standard expected by the public and beyond.”
Alison Ayling from FAB told Greatest Hits Radio that they weren't surprised by the grading.
She said: "We've been doing our own analysis at the same time. One of the team is actually a water quality expert. It's his job.
"He's been doing analysis and he said much earlier in the season, we will probably gain poor status."
Alison added that the variation in weather is partly to blame for the result, with pollution and bacteria not diluted on very dry days, while heavy rainfall changes the picture completely.
While she admitted it's a disappointment, Alison highlighted that it does provide some direction.
"What it does is to give us some work, or at least to outline some work that we need to do to improve it for next time and with whom we need to work and who we need to talk to and so on," she told us.
Alison revealed that they've already started working with Wessex Water to improve the water quality, starting by using a monitor that uses artificial intelligence to collect data on water quality.
Work is also being planned on a sewage overflow upstream from the bathing site which becomes active when there is heavy rainfall.