Proposal to remove Newhaven from the list of designated bathing waters

Overview

The Bathing Water Directive protects bathers' health at popular beaches and inland waters by requiring water quality to be monitored for intestinal enterococci and E.coli during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. The Directive applies to waters that are used by a large number of bathers and where bathing is supported and promoted by the local authority or private owner. There are currently 406 beaches and 12 lakeside sites in England that are designated as bathing waters.

Other measures are in place to protect the water environment generally, including the Water Framework Directive, the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

This consultation asks for your views on whether Newhaven should be removed from the list of bathing waters.

Why your views matter

The designated bathing water at Newhaven is within the harbour and has been closed to the public since 2008.  Since then the Environment Agency has been unable to collect water quality samples.

Following a Supreme Court judgment in February 2015 we are consulting on the removal of Newhaven from the list of bathing waters. 

The consultation will be open until 30 September 2015. Your response can be submitted through the online survey, or by email or post to the contact details below:

Email: bathingwater@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Post:  Bathing Water team

            Defra

            Area 3D Nobel House

           17 Smith Square

            London

            SW1P 3JR

What happens next

We are now analysing the responses to the consultation and we will announce the decision on whether Newhaven will be removed from the list of designated bathing waters before the beginning of the 2016 bathing season.