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14
Jan 2024
Tories and Lib Dems clash over River Nidd water quality
Conservative MP Andrew Jones has clashed with Liberal Democrat politicians over water quality in the River Nidd.
The state of the Nidd is likely to be one of the key election issues in Harrogate and Knaresborough in the year ahead, with both parties focusing heavily on it. The Stray Ferret has been following developments — you can read a recent summary here.
Mr Jones, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, was questioned on the subject when he appeared before a Liberal Democrat-controlled committee of local councillors on Friday.
Mr Jones has been leading a campaign to achieve bathing water status on the Nidd at Knaresborough Lido, which would oblige the Environment Agency to monitor water quality along the river.
Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East on North Yorkshire Council, asked Mr Jones when it would be safe to swim in the Nidd.
Mr Jones said the government was expected to adjudicate on the bathing water status application by late spring or early summer.
He added:
Cllr Gostlow replied by saying she asked the question because an Environment Agency report in December 2023 gave 'poor' water quality status to the only three rivers in England to hold a distinct classification for swimming, meaning they were unfit for swimming.
Those waterways are the River Wharfe at Ilkley, Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxfordshire, and the Deben estuary at Waldringfield —
After the meeting, Cllr Gostlow accused Mr Jones of failing to answer the question on when it will be safe to swim in the Nidd. She added:
Mr Jones (right) sitting alongside an aide at last week's meeting.
Mr Jones told the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which advises North Yorkshire Council on local issues, the bathing water status application had been "a hugely successful piece of work".
He said agricultural run off that is the largest cause of pollution in rivers and the Nidd's mining past also caused issues.
He added:
He said monitoring "has changed the entire national debate" and would enable everyone shortly to be able to see live data on water quality.
Read more:
- River Nidd clean-up campaign boosted by £500,000 from Yorkshire Water
- Yorkshire Water begins £19m works in bid to improve River Nidd quality
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