Call for more testing at beach after no-swim alert

Calls have been made for more testing at a beach where safety warnings were imposed after the water quality was rated "poor" last November.

The Environment Agency (EA) downgraded the rating for Dymchurch from sufficient to poor due to increased levels of bacteria such as E. Coli and as a result, visitors were advised not to enter the water.

One resident described it as a "shame", while the MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Tony Vaughan, said the ban was "unfair" and called for more frequent testing.

The EA said it is removing fixed bathing season dates to allow a more flexible and site-specific approach to testing.

The agency previously said "the poor results for Dymchurch show there is much work still to do", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Margaret Manion, 72, who has a static caravan in Dymchurch, said the no swim warning "puts a damper" on their visits.

"Last year, one of our grandchildren was in the water," she said.

"I then realised apparently how bad the water was. I spent weeks worrying about his health, but he was OK."

She suggested more regular testing and updates could help.

"Why have such a lovely beach like this and be unable to swim? It doesn't make sense," she said.

Susan Regelous, 57, said it was "a shame" a no-swim warning had been issued.

Labour MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Tony Vaughan, said it was unfair because the EA "doesn't want to test the water for half of the year".

The EA's conclusions are drawn from an analysis of 20 samples taken from each of the sites it monitors between May and September.

Vaughan said the agency had "blacklisted a whole beach and a whole area".

He called for "more data so we have more of a basis to say on a particular day if the water is safe".

"I think more testing is one of the ways we are going to do that," Vaughan said.

A spokesperson for Southern Water said its chief executive Lawrence Gosden met Mr Vaughan.

They said: "One of the ideas was support for citizen testing around Dymchurch.

"We are liaising with Mr Vaughan's office and other local groups to see how we can support this," they added.

An EA spokesperson said removing the fixed bathing season testing would allow it to meet "modern requirements" and "adapt to local demand", all whilst maintaining or enhancing the current monitoring levels.

Further details about how this will impact each area will be be available at a later date.

"Bathing waters are hugely important and there is growing public demand for bathing," the EA said.

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