Thousands of people have signed a petition asking the council to amend a bylaw which bans swimming at a a popular wild swimming spot.
Earlier this month, it was revealed an application for bathing water status at Conham River Park on the River Avon wouldn't be supported by Bristol City Council. The council said it could not support the application because of a 2009 bylaw banning swimming, adding there is also a right to navigation which would mean swimming would carry a "significant risk" from boats.
A group of campaigners is trying to achieve the "designated bathing water status" - which would see the water monitored for harmful bacteria - in the area. And now a petition has been set up on the council website asking it to amend the byelaw.
Read next: Conham River Park 'bathing water status' bid won't be backed by council
So far, more than 2,250 people have signed the ePetition, which will run until August 12. If it receives 3,500 signatories, it will then trigger a debate at full council.
The petition, which was started by Rebecca Blease of Conham Bathing on July 4, reads: "We the undersigned demand Bristol City Council to support us in addressing the issue of sewage pollution in the River Avon and to amend the 2009 bylaw prohibiting swimming.
"Last year, Wessex Water discharged raw sewage directly into the river 23,524 times for a total duration of 151,258 hours.
"To address this, community group Conham Bathing has been preparing an application to Defra for Designated Bathing Water Status at Conham River Park (and Eastwood Farm Nature Reserve), a beautiful and historic bathing spot that has been enjoyed by locals for generations. With this status, the Environment Agency would monitor the levels of sewage pollution at the site and be responsible for implementing improvement measures if the water is found to be of persistently poor quality.
"The group need the Council's permission to submit the application, as it is the landowner of the site. However, the Council has refused to support their efforts due to the Bristol City Docks By-Law 2009: Part V, sub-section 49, which prohibits swimming in the harbour, including the stretch of river at Conham River Park, despite this being some distance away.
"We are now demanding the Council amend this bye-law, so we can work towards enhancing and protecting the water quality in this treasured nature reserve, not only for public health, but for the river and the wildlife it supports."
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said “Entering the tidal River Avon presents a number of risks including cold water shock, boat strike, hazardous objects under the water, strong currents, and illness and infection.
“The stretch of river all the way up to Hanham Lock, including Conham River Park, is covered by our 2009 Bylaws under which swimming is prohibited and there is a right to navigation. We are therefore unable to support the application for bathing water status at this time, which would encourage prohibited activity and carry significant risk from boats on the waterways.
“The council welcomes petitions and recognises they are one way in which people can let us know their concerns. Petitions can be submitted to Full Council for a response, and until this point we are unable to comment.
"If a petition contains 3,500 signatories or more from people who live, work or study in Bristol it can then trigger the right to be debated by the Full Council.”
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