Ludlow MP, Philip Dunne, has welcomed confirmation today that the River Teme at Ludlow has been awarded bathing water status by Defra.

The designation means the site will be subject to the requirements under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 and will be included in the Environment Agency’s bathing water monitoring programme from this May 2024.

The Environment Agency will now prepare a bathing water profile for the site, which will be available on its Swimfo website (https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/).

The River Teme at Ludlow will now be subject to regular testing by the Environment Agency throughout the bathing season, giving those who use the river, especially swimmers, a clearer picture on water quality for public health. The Environment Agency will also assess what action is needed to improve water quality to meet the standards set by the Bathing Water Regulations.

Mr Dunne said:

“Having campaigned for years now on water quality, including working with Severn Trent to boost investment in water quality on the River Teme for several miles around Ludlow, I am delighted that the stretch of the River Teme upstream from Dinham Weir has now received designation as a bathing water quality site by Defra. 

“This designation will mean enhanced monitoring by the Environment Agency, giving swimmers and other river users the confidence that the water is clean and safe.

“This is a big step forward in water quality of our rivers in Shropshire, with the River Severn, both in Shrewsbury and at Ironbridge being designated alongside the River Teme at Ludlow. I am really pleased that the government has responded so positively to all our campaigning work in Shropshire, where 3 of the 12 new river sites being designated bathing waters across England are located.

“I look forward to working with the Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, Shropshire Council and Ludlow Town Council and other local riparian owners to help bring safe and secure river swimming back to Ludlow this summer.”

The government has also announced plans to consult on a series of potential reforms for England to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. 

The proposed changes will drive work to improve bathing water quality, enhance monitoring, and enable more flexibility around the dates of the bathing water monitoring season – the current bathing water monitoring offer will be maintained as a minimum. These changes will lead to the Environment Agency increasing monitoring outside of the bathing water season in the future - consulting on year round monitoring which will be welcomed by all weather swimmers - and to prevent automatic de-designation of existing bathing water sites should a site achieve a poor rating. 

Photo: Philip Dunne MP at the River Teme in Ludlow, above Dinham Bridge.