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16/06/2023
DAERA Identifies Seven New Bathing Water Sites
The Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs has identified seven new official bathing water sites, following the completion of a public review.
The new sites are: Brompton Bay, Bangor; Cushendall; Donaghadee Harbour; Drain's Bay, near Larne; Portmuck; Rea's Wood, Antrim, Lough Neagh; Warrenpoint, Sandy Bottom.
The Bathing Water Review 2022/23 also received calls (98% of respondents) for the bathing season, which currently runs from 01 June until 15 September, to be extended.
DAERA will now explore with stakeholders the implications of such an extension and will be cooperating with councils acting as Bathing Water Operators in having the new sites identified in regulation.
The review incorporated a public consultation which saw 352 nominations for 101 proposed new bathing water sites, including inland water sites.
For the Department to proceed with the identification of a site, it must be assured that:
• bathing is not prohibited or inadvisable for safety reasons;
• bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of bathers (the Department has criteria around this), and
• there is an appropriate body willing to take on the formal responsibility of Bathing Water Operator.
The new sites are: Brompton Bay, Bangor; Cushendall; Donaghadee Harbour; Drain's Bay, near Larne; Portmuck; Rea's Wood, Antrim, Lough Neagh; Warrenpoint, Sandy Bottom.
The Bathing Water Review 2022/23 also received calls (98% of respondents) for the bathing season, which currently runs from 01 June until 15 September, to be extended.
DAERA will now explore with stakeholders the implications of such an extension and will be cooperating with councils acting as Bathing Water Operators in having the new sites identified in regulation.
The review incorporated a public consultation which saw 352 nominations for 101 proposed new bathing water sites, including inland water sites.
For the Department to proceed with the identification of a site, it must be assured that:
• bathing is not prohibited or inadvisable for safety reasons;
• bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of bathers (the Department has criteria around this), and
• there is an appropriate body willing to take on the formal responsibility of Bathing Water Operator.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
