Andrew Jones MP has been asked when the River Nidd will be safe to swim in following a campaign he has been leading to designate the river bathing water status.
When will it be safe to swim in the River Nidd? Andrew Jones MP has been asked when the River Nidd will be safe to swim in following a campaign he has been leading to designate the river bathing water status. The Conservative MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough submitted an application to government for the status in October. If successful, the Nidd would join just three other waterways in the country that have achieved it. Bathing water status means that each year during the peak bathing season between May and September, government body the Environment Agency will test the Lido Leisure Park section of the river for pollutants, including the bacteria E-coli which can be a signifier of human waste. Sampling of the river undertaken by the Nidd Action Group previously found e-coli at “concerningly high” levels. Pollution in the Nidd has been a long-running issue and in 2022 a group of children fell ill after swimming near Conyngham Hall. Yorkshire Water releases sewage into the Nidd during storm overflows but there are also other pollution problems to overcome such as peat bog erosion and historic metal mining which wash into the river at Nidderdale and travel down stream. Mr Jones attended a meeting of local councillors in Harrogate last week when Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough West for the Lib Dems, asked him when it will be safe to swim in the Nidd. In response, the MP said Cllr Gostlow’s question was “slightly loaded and wrong” but that work to clean up the Nidd has united councils up and down the river. He added the government will respond to the application for bathing water status in late spring or early summer. Mr Jones said:
“It isn’t reasonable to say it’s not safe to swim in the River Nidd because the whole point of the bathing water status is it’s measuring people actually already swimming there. "People like swimming in the Nidd. This is about helping them do that.”Yorkshire Water is allowed to release sewage into the Nidd when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed through what are called storm overflows. Conservative councillor for Borougbridge & Claro, Robert Windass referred to a presentation given by an Environment Agency officer at a previous meeting which he said was “damning” about the company. Mr Jones said there is now 100% monitoring of storm overflows which has “changed the national debate”. He added:
“We can now quantify scale of problem and direct where investment is going to make the quickest and biggest difference.”By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Santa to visit Harrogate vets for charity festive open day
Pannal Players announce final pantomime after 40 years
Man jailed for six years after stabbing victim in neck outside pub near Ripon
£3.4m bailout saved council-owned Brierley Homes from collapse, say councillors
Man jailed after violent assault on former partner in Harrogate
Police appeal to identify Kex Gill cyclist
WATCH: Satisfying transformation as Harrogate Cenotaph is cleaned
Yorkshire Garden Centres raises more than £106,000 for children's hospice
Earlier fireworks and live music planned for Your Harrogate Stray Bonfire
Harrogate Taekwondo master "honoured" to represent UK in Sweden and Croatia
Yorkshire Water boss to step down after lowest possible environmental rating
Harrogate Poundland faces uncertainty as retailer appoints administrators
£65million Leeds Bradford Airport railway station described as ‘critical’ for region
Defending Harrogate Gateway scheme was important for town's future, says councillor
Skipton and Ripon MP criticises Budget over lack of support for rural communities
New 'Winter Warmers' campaign aims to get residents outdoors
Police appeal after cars damaged on Harrogate streets
Thousands expected in Harrogate for four-day craft show
Harrogate Mumbler to launch Welfare Hub at Stray Bonfire
'Push For Pudsey' sofa challenge to pass through Harrogate
