The government is proposing 13 new bathing sites, expanding England’s official list to 464 beaches, coastal stretches, rivers, and lakes, with public consultation now open.

These designations will include regular water quality testing to give swimmers and water sports participants better information and to support cleaner rivers and coasts through community advocacy.

The proposed sites include culturally resonant locations such as East Beach at West Bay in Dorset and Pangbourne Meadow in Berkshire, tying bathing sites to local heritage.

Save Our Swale and local residents highlight decades of bather use and pollution concerns from sewage spills as the River Swale applies for designation.

FLOW’s experience with a nearby bathing project in Fordingbridge shows how designation can lead to upstream infrastructure investment and technology like an AI-driven water updates app.

Campaigners led by Marlene Lawrence of the Teddington Bluetits emphasize that bathing water status would help keep the river clean and support local swimmers.

River Action’s Amy Fairman acknowledges benefits of broader designation but warns that inland water quality remains poor overall and calls for systemic pollution reductions.

Local groups For Love of Water (FLOW), Extinction Rebellion Salisbury, and Salisbury Transition City collaborated with Salisbury City Council to submit the application after public consultation and citizen science water testing.

Authorities expect that designation will spur local clean-up efforts and foster healthier, more connected communities.

Bathing water designation entails stricter regulatory testing by the Environment Agency for fecal indicators, aligning with ongoing pollution reduction efforts.

The report includes related media content and notes listeners can catch news updates on Greatest Hits Radio.

The overarching aim is to reflect site use, modernize monitoring timelines, and empower communities to improve rivers and coasts as part of reforming the water system to cut pollution.