Thames21 reacts to Defra’s River Thames bathing water site proposals

Defra has announced 13 proposed new bathing sites across England  – including stretches on the River Thames in Ham and Kingston, and Pangbourne Meadow.

Claire Robertson, Catchment Manager at environmental charity Thames21, said: “This is fantastic news not only for the many swimmers who enjoy these sites, but also for the wider community of river users and the wildlife that depend on a healthy river. Healthy rivers benefit everyone, and these designations mark important steps towards improving water quality and protecting precious stretches of the Thames.

“If successful, Pangbourne Meadow would become the third bathing water site on the Thames secured through the efforts of Thames21, its volunteers, and partners, following the designations of Port Meadow and Wallingford Beach.

“The efforts of Thames21, its volunteers and partners made the proposal for Pangbourne Meadows possible. We are incredibly grateful to the dedicated citizen scientists for their hard work and commitment – we simply couldn’t have achieved it without them. We also extend our sincere thanks to all the individuals, councils and organisations who supported our application and helped turn this ambition into reality.”

Local communities are being invited to have their say on proposals to designate 13 new bathing water sites, as part of a six-week public consultation. They include new rivers and coastal waters that are already popular with swimmers, reflecting growing public interest in outdoor swimming and connecting with local blue spaces.

Bathing water designation would lead to Pangbourne Meadow being tested weekly by the Environment Agency during the bathing season (May to September). Results would be displayed onsite and allow swimmers and other river users to make informed choices about how to safely enjoy the Thames at Pangbourne. Designation also puts pressure on Thames Water to investigate and address poor water quality to ensure the site meets bathing water standards. This will be of benefit, not only to the many people who use and love the river, but also to the overall health of the river ecosystem.

Thames21 conducted a programme of water quality monitoring with citizen scientists testing the river weekly for bacteria harmful to human health. The data collected resulted in a ‘Good’ overall status for bathing water quality at Pangbourne Meadow, in both 2024 and 2025’s monitoring seasons. However, rainfall can affect water quality at this site, and regular statutory monitoring would ensure that these any variation in these positive results are investigated and solutions prioritised.

Photo credit: Olivia Mooney-Griffiths – main feature pic

© Dave Olinski