DOZENS of residents have launched a campaign to have a section of the River Avon in Fordingbridge listed as a designated bathing area. 

Only  14 per cent of England's rivers are considered to be in good ecological health and all rivers across the country fail to meet chemical standards due to agricultural run-off, forever chemicals and sewage in rivers. Many rivers are not safe to swim in. 

The Fordingbridge Avon Bathing group (FAB) is going to send an application to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

FAB spokesperson, Alison Ayling said: "We have been working on this since June. We have had a lot of support. One main benefit of doing this is that the water will be monitored each week."

Weekly checks will give families the information they need to know whether to go for a swim. 

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Salisbury Journal: Alison Ayling giving an update about the campaignAlison Ayling giving an update about the campaign (Image: FAB)Read more: "Everyone is a suspect and everyone has a motive"

Alison said: "It will take six months before we hear. People have become more aware about rivers and pollution and talk more about swimming and the River Avon is valuable, it is a chalk stream."

Alison stated there are only three rivers in England with designated bathing status. 

She said: "To apply for bathing water status, there has to be an easy access point, have toilets available and be support from both the local council and landowner. In this case, the council is the landowner and they have given their support. "

Sir Desmond Swayne, the local MP, has also backed the project.

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Alison added: "Of course, even if the Fordingbridge section of the river is designated as bathing water, it does not mean it is safe to swim in but it will be clean and checked weekly by the Environment Agency."

At the meeeting, the founder of For the Love of Water (FLOW) CIC, outlined how the ongoing quality of the water is assessed and also presented the results of the consultation by FAB where nearly 600 people had participated and explained which events and activities impacted water quality. 

Surfers against Sewage, Fordingbridge Swimming Group and Fordingbridge Greener Living were thanked for all their support.