Bathing water status rarely being granted in England, analysis finds

Exclusive: People left to 'swim in filth' as Environment Agency turns down applications, say Lib DemsMost applications for bathing water status to clean up rivers and coastal waters in England have been rejected by the government in the last 14 months, according to new data from the Liberal Democrats.Across the country, local groups have been working for months to create bathing water areas, where the Environment Agency is forced to undertake more rigorous testing for faecal bacteria. Grassroots groups are particularly focusing on inland waters, in a push to stop the discharge of raw sewage by water companies, and force a clean-up of English rivers, which all fail tests for chemical and biological pollution. Continue reading...