Therese has slammed East Suffolk Council for failing to back an application to make a section of the River Deben at Woodbridge a designated bathing water. As landowners, the government requires their specific backing in order for the application to be considered.
Designated bathing areas are then tested regularly by the Environment Agency throughout the season to ensure water quality remains excellent, good or sufficient and specific actions taken if it becomes poor. Back in April, another section of the River Deben at Waldringfield was made a designated bathing water in addition to the existing sites in Felixstowe and Southwold.
Therese said: “Earlier this year, I hosted a roundtable focusing on actions to clean up The Deben Estuary at Woodbridge – using the government’s Plan for Water, which I published as Environment Secretary. As part of that work, I was looking forward to another application to make the Woodbridge site a designated bathing water, but I’m incredibly disappointed that the Green/Lib Dem Council has blocked it. The then-Conservative Council supported the application last year, so it's important we know fully why the current administration has failed to back it this time. I’m, therefore, seeking a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Council to try and ensure it comes forward in the future.”
Photo: Therese with Water Minister, Rebecca Pow and community representatives at her River Deben Roundtable in August.
