Lib Dems slam water companies as bathing sites consistently deemed poor ahead of the scorching bank holiday week

The Lib Dems have reinstated their calls for a complete overhaul of the water
industry as people are discouraged from bathing sites ahead of sunny bank holiday
weekend. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon called out Yorkshire Water as multiple
North Yorkshire bathing sites have been consistently rated as poor.

Recent BBC coverage of sites rated consistently ‘poor’ and unswimmable highlighted
signs discouraging swimmers in place in at almost all of England’s inland river
bathing sites, including the Lido at the River Nidd in Knaresborough and the River
Wharfe in Ilkley and Wetherby.

An additional site has also been designated for testing at the River Swale in
Richmond.

In response to BBC coverage of consistently unswimmable bathing sites, Liberal
Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Tim Farron MP said:

“This is the latest example of water company impunity being laid bare. Bathing sites
are meant to be there for the public to enjoy nature and yet they're another casualty
in the water companies' assault on nature.

"It is an outrage that the Government has failed time after time to come down hard
on these polluters and protect the public's health. They need to get on with the job of
replacing Ofwat and make sure the water bosses are punished for this scandal."

Tom said:
“As the weather starts to hot up, people simply can’t enjoy nature and cool off in a
bathing site without serious health risks.

They’re preventing people from enjoying the most basic benefits of nature, it’s
unacceptable.”