Local MP Rallies Support at Sixth River Dee Summit to Push for Bathing Water Status

Samantha Dixon, Member of Parliament for Chester North and Neston has brought together campaigners, environmental experts, and community leaders for the sixth River Dee Summit, hosted at Chester Zoo, driving forward her pledge to clean up the River Dee and Dee Estuary.

The Dee Summit, held today Friday, 15th August, is a regular gathering convened by Samantha to unite local environmentalists, residents, and stakeholders in the fight to stop sewage dumping, improve water quality, and protect the river’s unique biodiversity.

This latest meeting focused on securing designated bathing water status for the River Dee a key step towards the wider goal of a cleaner, healthier river by ensuring regular testing, identifying pollution sources, and taking action to improve water quality.

The summit followed a positive meeting earlier this summer between Samantha and Emma Hardy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). A senior DEFRA official joined the discussions to explain the bathing water status application process.

Previously, Cheshire West and Chester Council, working in partnership with Chester Frosties and other local groups, submitted an application for bathing water designation at Sandy Lane. The bid was rejected by the previous Government after the bathing threshold was changed midway through the consultation - a move Samantha previously criticised as “moving the goalposts” and unfairly disadvantaging the application.

Attendees at this summit included representatives from Chester Zoo, DEFRA, Welsh Water, The Environment Agency, the Welsh Dee Trust, local councillors, and community campaigners. Updates and presentations covered everything from the application process to water testing and pollution prevention measures.

Speaking after the meeting, Samantha Dixon MP said: 

“The River Dee is at the heart of our city - a source of pride, a home to wildlife, and a place where people come together. Securing bathing water status is about more than just swimming; it’s about protecting our river for generations to come. I’m grateful to everyone who attended and to Chester Zoo for hosting us. I will keep pressing at every level to make our river cleaner, safer, and healthier.”

Dr Kirsten Pullen, Chief Conservation Officer of Chester Zoo: 

“We’re proud to support the Summit of the Dee and the shared ambition to protect and celebrate this internationally important river, its precious habitats and the incredible range of species that call it home. That includes the critically endangered Scarce Yellow Stonefly - found nowhere else in the UK – which depends on a clean, healthy river to survive.

“Following its rediscovery in the Dee, our team at Chester Zoo became the first in Europe to successfully breed this species through its full lifecycle, helping to safeguard its future and kickstart its recovery in the wild.

“We’re also pleased to see continued momentum around bathing water status for the Dee. It’s a positive step that will help improve water quality, reduce pollution, and support the recovery of our city’s biodiversity – creating a space where both wildlife and swimmers can thrive together.”

Following the positive meeting, Samantha, the Clean Dee campaign and other local groups have launched a consultation as part of their application for bathing water status for part of the River Dee, inviting residents, swimmers, anglers, and all those who care about the River Dee to share their views on bathing water status. 

If you'd like to contribute to the consultation or find out more, you can do so on Samantha's website here:

https://samantha-dixon.co.uk/river-dee-bathing-water-status/ 

Samantha added:

“Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Dee Summits. Your commitment keeps this campaign moving forward and together, we can make the River Dee something we’re all proud to pass on to the next generation.”