A COMMUNITY group which has campaigned for a bathing an official bathing area has reacted to the news that a section of the River Avon has been shortlisted to become just that.

Fordingbridge Avon Bathers, a community group based in Fordingbridge, Hampshire has been campaigning since April 2023 for their section of the river to be recognised as an official bathing water. 

As previously reported, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA,  announced on February 26 that the site has been shortlisted to be considered as one of their newly designated inland bathing water sites, subject to the results of a two-week consultation period.

READ MORE: River Avon Fordingbridge to become designated bathing area

The group says that the River Avon at Fordingbridge Recreation Ground is a vital resource for the town, and incredibly popular with swimmers and children paddling and playing in the river.

A supporting survey showed that an overwhelming 98 per cent of those questioned supported the application, and highlighted how important the site was to the whole community.

When a location is officially designated, the Environment Agency has a responsibility to test the water quality during the bathing season.

A bathing site will then receive a classification of 'Excellent', 'Good', 'Sufficient' or 'Poor' at the end of the bathing season and the regulator has a responsibility at 'Poor' classified sites to prevent, reduce or eliminate the causes of pollution, and identify the reasons it didn’t receive a higher classification.

The DEFRA consultation runs until 10 March, readers can find it here:  consult.defra.gov.uk/water/consultation-on-designation-of-27-sites-as-bathing/

Adam Ellis, FLOW CIC, part of Fordingbridge Avon Bathers, said: “We are delighted to hear that DEFRA has listened to our community about the importance of the Hampshire Avon which is a globally important chalk river with the highest level of protection.

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"I worry that the next generation aren’t going to fall in love with the river and protect it if their parents are too scared to let them paddle.

"Getting bathing water status will allow water users to make an informed choice, as well as driving further investigation and intervention into sources of pollution"

Kirsty Davies, community water quality officer from Surfers Against Sewage said: "Passionate communities like Fordingbridge Avon Bathers are leading the way in applying for bathing water status to protect the health of their local waterways, and people’s health.

"We know that inland waterways achieving bathing water designation isn’t a silver bullet to improve water quality but it is a vital next step in our plans to lift the lid on polluters, force regulators to act and end sewage pollution for good."