A beach in Penarth has received official status as a bathing water site, thanks to a campaign run by keen outdoor swimmer and local events director, James Tennet. The 35-year-old, who lives in the seaside town, began swimming outdoors at the start of lockdown.
He initially used Penarth beach before turning to neighbouring waters in Barry, which he discovered was a designated site. He said: “I'd seen one or two people swimming [in Penarth], but not many. So I tried to do a bit of digging about what the water quality was. And that's when I realised it wasn't a designated bathing water.
“There was no record or any tests of the [quality of the] water going on. From digging, it took me to the Natural Resources Wales website, which shows you where all the designated bathing waters are - I realised there were three in Barry. So because of that, for quite a while, I was swimming in Barry more than Penarth, for peace of mind and knowing what the water quality was. But for me, obviously, being able to swim locally will be much easier. I'll be able to do it a bit more often.”
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After finding out anyone can apply for a beach to have this official status, he got the ball rolling with the help of Penarth outdoor swimming community, Dawnstalkers. Setting up user surveys, providing information about facilities at the site and evidence of a consultation with local residents, with proof of large numbers of people swimming there. This proof was overwhelming in Dawnstalkers’ community, who have a following of almost 9000 on Instagram, and many people gathering on the shores of Penarth to swim each morning.
“The campaign was great because they just have the following and all the people to support it. Once the application is accepted then it's an open public consultation. So they really helped with that and getting people to respond. And we ended up with about 400 people responding.”
The breadth of the responses he received spurred him even further to help Penarth beach get recognition as it seemed no-one knew what the quality of the water in which they were swimming actually was. Now, however, thanks to James’ campaign, from May to September, which is deemed bathing season, Natural Resources Wales will test for water quality regularly, for two types of bacteria - E. coli and intestinal enterococci. The waters will then be given a rating as to how sufficient the site is for swimming.
According to the outdoor swimming society: “The local council must display information, online and on signs at Bathing Waters, about water quality and pollution sources during the bathing season.”
So, what does this official recognition mean?
The government website states: “A bathing water is a coastal or inland water that attracts a large number of bathers in relation to any infrastructure or facilities that are provided, or other measures that are taken, to promote bathing at the site. There’s no set limit for how many bathers are needed for a site to be identified as a bathing water. A bathing water could be a coastal water in a large resort or a smaller site attracting a large number of bathers for its size.”
Why is it important to have this?
Keen outdoor swimmer and co-founder of Penarth’s community of sea swimmers Dawnstalkers, Lene Hops, says of this campaign win: “As a community, it now means that we get the certainty that it’s ok to swim there - that is if the water is tested positively. If it's good quality, we’ll just be more reassured we can still swim there.”
Beaches in Wales that have designated bathing water status:
Prestatyn
Rhyl East
Rhyl
Marine Lake, Rhyl
Kinmel Bay, Sandy Cove
Abergele (Pensarn)
Colwyn Bay Porth Eirias
Colwyn Bay
Llandudno North Shore
Llandudno West Shore
Penmaenmawr
Llanfairfechan
Llanddona
St. Davids - Benllech
Benllech
Cemaes
Church Bay
Porth Dafarch
Trearddur Bay
Borth wen
Silver Bay Rhoscolyn
Rhosneigr
Aberffraw
Llanddwyn
Llyn Padarn
Morfa Dinlle
Morfa Nefyn
Aberdaron
Porth Neigwl
Abersoch
Pwllheli
Glan Don beach
Criccieth
Craig Du Beach Central
Harlech
Llandanwg
Dyffryn (Llanenddwyn)
Tal-Y-Bont
Barmouth
Fairbourne
Tywyn
Aberdyfi Rural
Aberdyfi
Borth
Clarach South
Aberystwyth North
Aberystwyth South
Llanrhystud
Traeth Gwyn New Quay
New Quay Harbour
New Quay North
Cilborth
Llangrannog
Penbryn
Tresaith
Aberporth
Mwnt
Poppit West
Newport North
Abermawr
Abereiddy
Whitesands
Caerfai
Newgale
Nolton Haven
Druidston Haven
Broad Haven (Central)
Little Haven
Marloes Sands
Dale
Sandy Haven
West Angle
Freshwater west
Broad Haven south
Barafundle
Freshwater east
Manorbier
Lydstep
Penally
Tenby South
Castle Beach Tenby
Tenby North
Saundersfoot
Coppet Hall
Wiseman's Bridge
Amroth Central
Pendine
Pembrey
Rhossili
Port Eynon Bay
Oxwich Bay
Caswell Bay
Langland Bay
Limeslade Bay
Bracelet Bay
Swansea Bay
Aberafan
Rest Bay Porthcawl
Sandy Bay Porthcawl
Trecco Bay Porthcawl
Southerndown
Col-Huw Beach
Cold Knap Barry
Whitmore Bay Barry Island
Jackson's Bay Barry Island
Penarth Beach
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