1,158 back safe swimming status for Suffolk's River Deben

If approved by DEFRA, the two parts of the river Deben at Woodbridge and Waldringfield will become only the third stretches of river in England to be granted designated bathing water status. 

Suffolk county councillor Caroline Page and Ruth Leach, founders of the Save the Deben campaign group, sent off the applications last week following months of planning. 

As part of the bid, a consultation was carried out with users online, including businesses and the public, which involved 1,158 people. 

If a site is designated, the Environment Agency will develop a bathing water profile and put plans in place to monitor and protect the bathing water.

If approved, two sections of the River Deben will be designated as safe for swimmers (Image: Archant)

In October, the EADT reported how Anglian Water would be checking the water cleanliness at the river Deben and the river Waveney at Bungay, which is also being earmarked for designated bathing water status. 

Currently, only the River Wharfe at Ilkley in Yorkshire and a stretch of the River Thames at Port Meadow, Oxford are the only rivers with designated bathing water status in the UK. 

Ms Leach said: "The River Deben estuary and the wildlife habitat it provides is one of the crowning glories of East Suffolk: designated bathing status will not only ensure that it is safe for bathing and for all other waterborne activities, it will be a huge benefit and a massive statement of intent in support for all that lives along it.” 

Last week, Ms Leach said she was ‘increasingly confident’ the applications would be approved as there had been considerable support for the status, including from hundreds of swimmers, kayakers and paddleboarders. 

A decision on whether to grant designated bathing water status is expected to be made by February.