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27
Nov
‘Bathing not advised’ — but what happens now to the River Nidd?
In possibly the least surprising news of the year, water quality at Knaresborough Lido on the River Nidd was officially rated ‘poor’ this week.
The rating was contained in the Environment Agency’s 2024 statistics on English coastal and inland bathing waters.
The Lido was one of 450 sites used by swimmers that were tested throughout the summer, after it became one of 27 new sites designated bathing waters in spring.
The tests monitored for two sources of pollution known to be a risk to bathers’ health — E. coli and intestinal enterococci.
The Stray Ferret has reported widely on the Lido results, which were uploaded during the summer and revealed E. coli readings more than 10 times higher than the level deemed to be safe, so this week’s announcement merely rubber-stamped the news.
The big question is: what happens now?
'Targeted action'
An Environment Agency online map of bathing water sites now says ‘bathing is not advised’ at the Lido. The agency is supposed to develop plans to improve sites rated ‘poor’. But whether it has the will or funding to take significant action is unclear.
Its press release announcing the bathing water results said it was working with local partners “to take targeted action” but was light on detail. Instead it trumpeted the fact that 85% of English bathing waters are now rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, compared with 28% in the 1990s.
Mike Dugher, deputy director for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said:
There is still much more to be done to ensure cleaner and healthier waters for people to enjoy and action plans are in place for poor and sufficient classifications. We are committed to working with our key partners and water companies to improve water quality and investigate the problems faced at some of our important tourist destinations.
The government proposed a “more flexible approach to designation and monitoring” in a consultation on modernising bathing water regulations that began on November 12.
One of the proposals is to end the automatic de-designation of bathing water status after five consecutive years of a site being rated ‘poor’ because it can damage local tourism and businesses.
The lack of clarity on a way forward is a concern to David Clayden, chair of Nidd Action Group. which has been at the forefront of the campaign for a cleaner Nidd.
Mr Clayden said he hoped the commitment to manage the Lido for bathing amounted to more than signs encouraging people not to swim.
Nidd Action Group is still trying to arrange meetings with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water to discuss their plans in detail. Yorkshire Water’s 2025-2030 business plan is currently awaiting acceptance by water regulator Ofwat.
Mr Clayden said:
Nidd Action Group supports attempts to strengthen regulation in a systemic way, but high-sounding aims don't get the job done without political conviction and resources to tackle the problems that we know are there.
“We intend to critically review the actions taken by major stakeholders over the next few years that affect the Nidd, and call-out any slow or ineffective interventions. We will work with others to improve our knowledge of how, what and where pollution gets into our rivers, and what steps we can all take to improve the rivers and becks.
Nidd Action Group conducted its own tests at the Lido. Pictured are (from left) Charlotte Simons, Amanda Evans and David Clayden.
Political reaction
Water minister Emma Hardy described the latest figures as “unacceptable” and said placing water companies under special measures through the Water Bill would strengthen regulation and introduce new powers to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, called for a complete overhaul of the water industry that included scrapping Ofwat and replacing it with a new regulator with the power to clamp down on polluting water companies, including Yorkshire Water.
Mr Gordon said:
It is completely inexcusable that local residents aren’t able to enjoy Knaresborough Lido, and all whilst Yorkshire Water hammers us with sky high water bills. Enough is enough. For far too long Yorkshire Water has been pumping gallons of disgusting sewage in our rivers and beaches, and all whilst paying vast bonuses to their executives.
The political rhetoric has been ramped up — but whether practical efforts to make a difference will also be increased remains to be seen.
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