Local groups denied access to reasons for refusal of English river bathing areas

The River Wharfe was the first in the UK to be granted bathing water status, but applications for three other areas on the river have been turned down. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Local communities fighting to clean up their rivers by creating protected bathing areas have been refused access to the reasons their applications were rejected by the government.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) turned down a series of freedom of information (FoI) requests submitted by campaigners in Kent, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall, Suffolk and Lancashire to obtain more information on why the applications were unsuccessful. The campaigners have lodged a complaint against the refusals.