Church Cliff Beach becomes designated bathing water after campaign

A beach in Lyme Regis has been changed to a bathing beach after a two-year campaign.

Water quality campaigners, swimmers and business in the area have been fighting for the change to Church Cliff Beach.

A bathing beach means the water quality will have to be monitored between May and September by the Environment Agency.

If the water quality is then found to be poor, the agency will have to investigate the cause.

The campaign for this change to happen was led by the River Lim Action Group, which applied for the change in role with the backing of Lyme Regis Town Council.

It will mean the Environment Agency has to provide members of the public with information about the water quality and identify what's needed to clean it.

Vicki Elcoate, from the action group, said: "This is excellent news after a lot of effort by the local community, who got right behind the campaign.

"It's a lever to secure better water quality and the pressure is now on South West Water and the Environment Agency to find a solution to our pollution problems.

"It won't happen overnight but it's so much better than having a beach where people swim that isn't monitored."

Matt Adamson-Drage, from the town council, said the authority had been working with the campaign group, Environment Agency, South West Water and Dorset Council for the past two years.

He added: "We will continue to work with these agencies collaboratively and respectfully to achieve a better outcome for the river and ultimately the front beaches.

"The town council is committed to improving the environment in which we all live."

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