Lyme Regis: Church Cliff beach "de-designated" as official bathing spot

Church Cliff beach

The Sunday Times - Bathers put at risk as ministers  ‘duck’ EU rules on dirty beaches

"The “de-designation” will mean the waters no longer need to be tested and swimmers will not be warned if the quality is poor. Other beaches including Church Cliff in Lyme Regis, Dorset, and Staithes, in North Yorkshire, have been taken off the designated list today. Both were classified as “poor” by the European Union last year and now ministers are being accused of “washing their hands” over the problem of dirty and polluted seas".

Background

DEFRA -"If a bathing water is de-designated, for example because of low usage or safety concerns, sampling for compliance with Bathing Water Directive standards would cease and there would be no further investment specifically directed at meeting these standards. There would no longer be a legal requirement for public information about water quality to be provided".

Gov.uk - Consultation outcome - Bathing waters: removing Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach from the list of designated bathing waters - Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach will be de-designated as a bathing water before the 2016 bathing season.

Gov.uk  - Analysis of Consultation Responses (pdf)