“However, at this time we must prioritise our continued coronavirus response, allowing stakeholders to do the same. In Bath, Johnny Palmer, is seeking bathing water status for Warleigh Weir, a popular swimming spot outside the city, and the London Waterkeeper group is campaigning for a Thames that is fit to swim in. “In my view this is very anti-democratic, the way they are behaving,” said Malby. A stretch of the River Wharfe in Ilkley, which is popular with swimmers and families, would be the only river in the country to be subjected to strict monitoring during May to October to ensure the water is of good quality. We will schedule a date to consult on the River Wharfe as soon as it is appropriate to do so.”, Available for everyone, funded by readers, Data reveals just 14% of good ecological standard and none of good chemical standard, Campaigners say Sir James Bevan is trying to ‘rig system’ and cover up decades of failure, Biggest threat is non-native fish, but study was conducted before summer bushfires impacted Australia’s rivers. All rights reserved. Campaigners in Ilkley have applied for a stretch of the river to be given bathing water status in an attempt to force action on the river being used as what activists describe as an open sewer. Getting areas of rivers designated as bathing water spots would spark a tougher testing regime and help clean up the river system, say campaigners. Shocking state of English rivers revealed as all of them fail pollution tests, Environment Agency chief supports plan to weaken river pollution rules, Identifying the culprits behind river pollution, Dire outlook for native freshwater fish with 22 species given less than 50% chance of survival, The government is looking the other way while Britain's rivers die before our eyes, Consultation launched into making UK's first river bathing spot in Ilkley, Quarter of native UK mammals at imminent risk of extinction, Just 3.6% of fly-tipping and pollution complaints lead to penalties, the huge scale of the releasing of human waste into the river system.
There is no one saying they don’t want this. It is part of an ongoing fight to make the stretch of river in Ilkley that is popular with swimmers a Designated Bathing River. A Defra spokesperson said: “We have received a bathing water application from the Ikley River Group, and after reviewing further evidence we are pleased to proceed to a consultation. Ilkley campaigners are among a group of river enthusiasts across the UK who are trying to get EU bathing water status as a means of ensuring rivers are cleaned up. He said: “The Ilkley Clean River campaign group … through their own drive and determination have made national headlines by applying pressure on Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency to ensure that our River Wharfe flows sewage free and has bathing water status.”. They monitored the numbers of people using the river to swim and paddle, garnered support from local politicians, their MP, the water company and the Environment Agency. “The people in Ilkley want this, our representative bodies want this, the town council wants it, the MP wants it. The Conservative MP for Ilkley, Robbie Moore, endorsed the campaign for bathing water status in his maiden speech. Ilkley Clean River Campaign (ICRC) aim to raise £3,000 to test the water in the River Wharfe for pollutants, from source to the where it meets the Ouse near Selby.
But campaigners say the Guardian data reveals the huge scale of the releasing of human waste into the river system, and amounts to a licence to pollute. Routine testing would take place between May and September, and bathing areas would be designated as excellent, good, sufficient or poor, similar to the designations for coastal waters. The clean river group held town meetings to garner support, carried out a survey of residents and set up a regime of citizen testing for coliform bacteria, the greatest threat to public health. The shallow stretch with a natural beach by the main bridge is an ideal location for young children to paddle and play in – or again would be if the water were of a suitable standard.”. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. There are some nice walks to be had along the riverside in Ilkley and the paths on the “town side” of the river are of hard construction and therefore clean.