River Dee a Step Closer to Bathing Water Status

The Clean Dee Campaign and local MP Samantha Dixon are celebrating a major milestone after a new Bathing Water Designation application for Sandy Lane on the River Dee has been accepted for a full public consultation.

The application, submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at the end of last year, follows a previous unsuccessful bid in 2023 which did not meet the required threshold for recorded bathers. Since then, the Clean Dee Campaign, working alongside Chester Frosties Open Water Swimming and local river users, has worked tirelessly to gather evidence, demonstrate strong community use, and build a robust case for designation.

The Sandy Lane stretch of the River Dee is a cherished local spot for open-water swimming and recreation. Earlier this year, a public consultation was carried out to gauge support, with residents and river users strongly backing Bathing Water status. The newly strengthened application reflects that collective effort and determination.

Designation as a bathing water would mean the site benefits from regular water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency during the bathing season from mid-May to September. This brings greater transparency for swimmers and enables action to identify and tackle sources of pollution. It can also deliver wider social, economic, leisure and health benefits for the community.

Nationally, England currently has 451 designated bathing waters. Last year (2024), 93% met acceptable standards for swimming - a benchmark Sandy Lane would be measured against if formally designated.

The milestone comes as the Government’s new Bathing Water Regulation reforms, which came into force on 21 November 2025, modernise the system to better reflect how people use rivers, lakes and beaches today - moving away from a “one size fits all” approach and empowering communities to seek protections for valued local blue spaces.

Celebrating the news, local MP Samantha Dixon said:

“I am really pleased to see the application being accepted for the next stage of the process. The River Dee is one of our greatest natural assets, supporting biodiversity, recreation and wellbeing. It’s essential that we protect and preserve it for future generations.

“Designation would mean regular testing and real accountability, giving residents the confidence they deserve when they swim and enjoy our local waters.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Clean Dee Campaign, Chester Frosties and everyone who worked tirelessly on this application. This is community collaboration at its very best.

“I strongly encourage residents to take part in the public consultation. By having your say, you can help secure the recognition and protections the River Dee deserves.”

Diane Parish of the Clean Dee Campaign and Chester Frosties added:

“Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers from the wide variety of local river user groups and local resident communities who worked together on our local consultation, it’s fantastic we’ve reached this next stage after the disappointment of the 2023 application. This is the crucial first step towards a River Dee free of pollution."

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

“Rivers and beaches are at the heart of so many communities, and people deserve a say in how these community assets are looked after.

“Our plans to designate new bathing water sites show how we are backing local ambition and recognising the pride in places that matter most to people.

“They are one part of this government’s generational reform of the water system, that will cut water pollution and clean up our rivers lakes and seas for good.”

The consultation will run for nearly six weeks. Following this period, the Government will consider responses before confirming which sites will be designated ahead of the 2026 bathing water season.

Residents can take part in the consultation and help shape the future of Sandy Lane by submitting their views before the deadline on the 23^rd March 2026.

Consultation:

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/13-proposed-bathing-water-sites/

Pictured - Local MP Samantha Dixon.