Designated bathing status could be granted for Suffolk river
It would mean weekly checks on the water quality
Last updated 26th May 2023
A group of volunteers from Stour River Trust are hoping to obtain bathing status for a section of the river in Suffolk.
The joint initiative between the River Stour Trust and Sudbury Town Council aims to gain the status between the Granary Cut in Sudbury and Great Cornard Lock.
It comes following numerous press reports about the pollution arising in rivers across the UK from a mixture of sewage overflow and agricultural run-off.
If Designated Bathing Status is granted it would mean the Environment Agency would be required to monitor and protect this stretch of river.
Project Organiser John Kemp said:
"The environment agency will be required to test the water in our stretch of the river every week during what they call the bathing season between mid May to the end of September. They will then post a notice telling us what the quality of the water is, leaving us to decide whether its safe to bathe or not."
To proceed with the application, the team will now conduct a number of surveys of river use during the summer, particularly between May and the end of September.
Other river users and landowners will also need to be consulted with the application being presented to DEFRA during October.
You can read more about the application and have your say on the River Stour Trust Website.