Wild swimming location closed due to health concerns
Daniel's Well in Malmesbury has been closed due to safety issues
A popular wild swimming location in Wiltshire has been closed due to health concerns.
Daniel's Well has been closed to the public due to safety risks and potential sewage issues causing illness in swimmers.
South Cotswolds MP, Roz Savage was in parliament speaking to the Ministry of Justice about the situation.
She said: "Daniel's Well is a much loved local swim spot but last week the Environment Agency warned swimmers to stay away.
"They said it was due to strong currents. However, Surfers against Sewage have provided evidence that there have been a number of illegal sewage discharges and a number of swimmers have fallen ill.
"Last year, the Liberal Democrats tables an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill that would have allowed victims of environmental crime, like sewage spills to claim compensation.
"I wonder if the Minister can explain why her party abstained from voting on that movement."
In the response, a Minister said that the Water Special Measures Act 2025 gives water regulators more power in "cracking down" on water companies.
They continued: "The victims code covers victims of crime who have suffered harm as a direct result of being subjected to or witnessing a crime at the time that it occurred.
"In the vast majority of these types of cases, criminal conduct in relation to sewage and waste water would be committed against the environment and not directly against the person.
"Where someone has been affected as a result, they are able to access the NHS to seek support."