Consultation outcome

Length of bathing season in England

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 24 June 2013
• Last updated: 14 November 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Summary of responses

PDF, 57KB, 5 pages

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Detail of outcome

We received 594 responses to the online survey and eight written or emailed responses from a range of respondents including water companies, local authorities, private beach and lake owners, swimming clubs, NGOs and individual members of the public. The majority (430) voted to extend the length of the bathing season.

In light of these responses, we will prepare an Impact Assessment and carry out a detailed consultation during the winter of 2013/14.

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Original consultation

Summary

This survey seeks views on whether the dates of the bathing season in England should be amended.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
24 June 2013 to 11:45pm on 8 October 2013

Consultation description

The closing date for this survey has been extended until 8 October 2013.

The bathing season is when beaches and lakes designated under the EU Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC, revised by 2006/7/EC) are monitored for compliance with the Directive’s water quality standards. The season currently runs from 15 May to 30 September and this could be amended to lengthen or reduce the season or could be set on a regional or individual basis. The Directive does not specify any minimum or maximum length for the bathing season.

Depending on the outcome of this survey, an Impact Assessment will be prepared and a detailed consultation will be carried out with those who have legal duties under the Regulations over the winter of 2013/14. A final decision would be based on evidence of the patterns of usage at bathing waters in different areas or at individual bathing waters.

Published 24 June 2013
Last updated 14 November 2013 + show all updates

1. 14 November 2013

   Added the summary of responses document.

2. 2 October 2013

   Consultation closing date extended to 8 October 2013

3. 24 June 2013

   First published.