25/02/2026
Bathing water application 🏊♀️🏊🌊🦆🐟🐸🪷
We are pleased that the community application for the River Dee at Sandy Lane Park, Chester to be designated as an inland bathing water has been put forward by DEFRA for public consultation.
Please contribute to the consultation which is open at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/13-proposed-bathing-water-sites/
The area is already used by so many swimmers and dippers that we feel designation would bring widespread health and safety benefits through increased monitoring and awareness of the water quality and management of risks. The application has the support of the local authority Cheshire West and Chester Council, as well as local MP Samantha Dixon and other local stakeholders including local residents, businesses, river user groups, etc. Over 800 responses were received to the public consultation carried out over 6 weeks during summer 2025. Of these, more than 790 were in favour of the proposal to apply for bathing water designation. Overwhelmingly, the reasons given showed a desire for a cleaner and safer river for humans and wildlife, a clamp down on pollution from sewage and agriculture routine water monitoring, and the benefits to living a healthy lifestyle through recreation at free, public, open water locations.
This site contains consultations that are run by Defra.
