Henley MP calls for faster action to improve River Thames water quality
Freddie van Mierlo writes to water minister about delays in protecting rivers used for swimming and water sports
MP for Henley and Thame, Freddie van Mierlo, has raised concerns over delays in implementing changes to water quality regulations that could help protect local rivers.
Earlier this year, the Government reviewed the Bathing Water Designation Framework and recommended several changes.
One of the proposed wider reforms, which would expand the definition of ‘bathers’ to include rowers, canoeists and paddleboarders, has been potentially delayed until 2027, Freddie van Mierlo said.
The postponement is significant for areas like Henley, where achieving Bathing Water Status depends on meeting current criteria focused on swimmers.
In 2024, Henley's application for the designation was rejected due to not having enough swimmers.
Freddie van Mierlo said a change in the definition of bathers would potentially make a re-application feasible, unlocking additional monitoring by the Environment Agency and obliging Thames Water to improve local water quality.
In a written appeal to Water Minister Emma Hardy MP, Freddie van Mierlo raised concerns about moving forward only with core reforms and technical changes from the review, leaving the broader reforms without a clear timeline.
He said: “Henley is a fantastic place to use the river but most of us are on the water, rowing or paddle boarding or canoeing, and I want to see the Government change that rule rather than going at a snail’s pace and making really minor, incremental changes."
Concerns about water quality in the River Thames have been raised in recent years.
High sewage and E. coli levels have been flagged at events such as the Henley Royal Regatta, while Henley Swim, which ran large community events for more than twenty years, closed this year due to poor water conditions.
Freddie van Mierlo pointed to success in nearby areas, stating, “We already have bathing water status, for example, in Wallingford, at Wallingford Beach… we’ve seen their bathing water quality go from poor last year, to satisfactory this year."
He said he was informed by the Government that further societal and economic studies were needed before bringing in the postponed changes, although he believes that this should not delay action.