Stretch of River Cam set to receive designated bathing status, government announces

A stretch of the River Cam is set to be designated as a bathing water site under government plans to improve water quality across the country, it has been announced today (Monday, 26 February).

The River Cam at Sheep’s Green could benefit from regular water monitoring from the 2024 bathing water season, which runs between 15 May and 30 September, subject to a two-week consultation.

The stretch is among 27 new swimming spots expected to be designated across England, including two others in East Anglia in Essex and Suffolk.

If designated, sites will receive regular water monitoring from the Environment Agency, who will investigate pollution sources and identify steps to be taken in response, which could include actions by water companies, farmers and others.

All residents, bathers, businesses, and organisations are invited to have their say before the consultation closes on 10 March.

Water minister Robbie Moore MP said: “Many people enjoy spending time in our rivers, lakes, and coastal beaches, and I am thrilled to see three new bathing water sites proceeding to consultation in East Anglia alone.

“I want to continue to improve the quality of our bathing waters, which is why we are taking action across the board to drive up standards and hold water companies to account.

“I encourage all local communities and organisations with an interest to take part in this consultation and have their say.”

Last year, 96 per cent of bathing waters in England met minimum standards and 90 per cent of bathing waters in England were rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, up from 76 per cent in 2010, despite the classification standards becoming stricter in 2015. The government also updated its guidance last year to make the application process clearer and easier to follow.

In October, Cambridge City Council agreed to support Cam Valley Forum’s application to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for designation of an area at Sheep’s Green.

Council officers said the designation would be a “positive starting point towards a longer-term solution around water quality”.

However, some councillors voiced concerns that the move could give people the “false impression of safety” to swim in the river.

Cllr Jean Glasberg (Green, Newnham) said Sheep’s Green was a nature reserve and said important concerns had been raised about the environmental impact of people swimming there.

She said she did not believe a designated bathing would address the wider issue and said Anglian Water should be funding the improvements to clean up the river anyway.

Cam Valley Forum could not apply for designation without the council’s letter of support.

Anglian Water’s business plan, which was published on October 2, noted that if the River Cam gets priority by becoming designated bathing water, it would budget around £5million to improve Haslingfield’s ageing and overloaded sewage infrastructure.

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