DIP-DIP HOORAY – TEDDINGTON’S RIVER SWIMMERS CELEBRATE BATHING STATUS (Photo Special)
Teddington’s regular river swimmers were out in force today to celebrate the official green light for the designated bathing site at Ham and Kingston.
The local swimming group, The Bluetits, were all smiles as they took to the water at 7.30am after the government’s confirmation of the 13 new sites – taking the total to 460 – but the local spot is the first designated on the River Thames where local campaigners are trying to stop development of a scheme known as the Thames Sewage Pump ( SOLAR -saveourlandsandriver.org.uk)
Melanie Lawrence, leader and founder of the Teddington Bluetits, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved Bathing Water status for the Thames at Ham and Kingston. The river is widely used by all ages to swim, rowm paddle and sail; and it is wonderful to have such a natural resource to use to enhance our health and mental well-being.
“With water testing throughout the bathing water season, I really want to encourage more people to enjoy leisure time in and on the Thames here.
“This is wonderful news for our bit of the Thames and for us to acheive bathing status we hope more and more people will use our lovely part of the river at Ham and Kingston. We swim here all year round and the water will be tested every week and we will do our best to promote swimming in the river.”
Twickenham MP Munira Wilson commenetd: ““The news that our stretch of the river will be part of London’s first-ever official bathing spot is wonderful news for all of the swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders and rowers who love and enjoy our precious river.
“I’m grateful to local campaigners like the Teddington Bluetits and the Ham and Kingston Bathers for their tireless efforts to make this happen. Now, I urge the Government to go even further to ensure the highest levels of water quality in our river by scrapping Thames Water’s controversial sewage recycling proposals at Teddington once and for all. Then we can finally say with confidence that we have done our utmost to ensure the clean, healthy water that people and wildlife need and deserve.”
Thames Water’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) proposals would replace river water with treated sewage at Teddington Lock. Munira, residents and local campaigners are concerned about the environmental impact of these proposals, including on human health, biodiversity, wildlife and water quality.
