LOCAL RIVER BATHING AREA IS CLEARED FOR SWIMMING
The swimming ban at the Designated Bathing area between Kingston and Ham because of pollution from blue and green algae has been officially lifted, we can reveal.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency told Teddington Town: “We are pleased that we can now remove our advice against bathing and avoiding contact with the water.
”We have received two consecutive weeks of algae monitoring analysis, showing that all River Thames sample locations, from Hampton Ferry to the Ham and Kingston Bathing Water, have been assessed as ‘PASS’.
“The river’s condition has improved significantly, and no floating algal scum has been observed either in the river or in the samples collected.
“The advice against bathing notice, will be removed from the Designated Bathing Water and warning signs are being taken down from affected lock sites and slipways.
“We have also updated the SwimInfo.(External link) website, where you can find out the latest updates on bathing water sites in your area.”
Marlene Lawrence, who organises the swimming group, Bluetits, said after being told the news by Teddington Town: “The Bluetits have been swimming at our designated Swim spot for the last few weeks now as we have seen the algae dissipate, and we have been asking the EA to retest and officially clear it.
“In the last six years that I’ve been Swimming here we have never had an algae bloom, and I suspect it will not be the last, given the changes in our climate. We are looking forward to regular winter swimming.”