The leader of North Yorkshire Council has said he will back a proposal to designate bathing water status to the River Nidd.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, asked Cllr Carl Les whether he would support the application at a full North Yorkshire Council meeting in Northallerton today.

If designation is successful, government agencies would be obliged to take action to improve water quality at Knaresborough Lido. This would also improve water quality on a much wider stretch of the river.

The campaign comes after reports of numerous bathers falling ill last summer.

Cllr Les said today:

“I am very happy to support that, I think it is a key issue for this council.”

He added he would back a motion by Cllr Haslam on the matter, which is due to be brought before a meeting in July, and “do whatever we can to further that cause”.

Read more:

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• Andrew Jones MP appeals for help at ‘critical time’ for River Nidd bathing water bid

The application is due to be submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs this year.

Nidd Action Group and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, are leading the campaign.

Mr Jones recently issued a plea for volunteers to help monitor water usage.

In a three-minute video on his Community News website in April, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP blamed the Victorian-era sewage system, run-off from agricultural land and drainage from housing estates for polluting the Nidd.

He said:

“May this year is a critical time as it marks the start of the bathing season when evidence must be collected for the bathing water application that I’m leading.

“This campaign is building momentum but we can’t let it slide.”

Conservative MP Andrew Jones has issued a plea for volunteers to help in the campaign to achieve bathing water status on the River Nidd.

Mr Jones plans to submit an application for bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido after reports of numerous bathers falling ill last summer.

If successful, it would oblige government agencies to take action to improve water quality.

In a three-minute video on his Community News website, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP blamed the Victorian-era sewage system, run-off from agricultural land and drainage from housing estates for polluting the Nidd.

He asked for volunteers to help with the campaign. He said:

“May this year is a critical time as it marks the start of the bathing season when evidence must be collected for the bathing water application that I’m leading.

“This campaign is building momentum but we can’t let it slide. That’s why I’m calling out to anyone who is passionate about our environment or who uses the River Nidd to come forward and help with the volunteer work.”

Mr Jones said data would be collected over summer and urged anyone interested in helping to get in touch.

He said he would be working alongside Nidd Action Group between now and September to apply for bathing water designation.

Steve Kirkley, from Blenkhorn’s Boats

Steve Kirkley, from Blenkhorn’s Boats, which operates boat hire on the Nidd, told the video improved water quality would “lead to more enjoyable surroundings” while David Clayden, secretary of Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, said it would create “a better environment for the river”.

Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said it was important to work in partnership to improve water quality.

‘Nidd plagued by foul sewage’

This week Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, accused Conservative MPs of “blocking new tough measures on water companies” to tackle sewage discharge.

Mr Gordon said the Sewage Discharge Bill would have introduced automatic fines on water companies breaking their sewage dumping permits but Conservative MPs voted to block it.

Mr Gordon, said:

“The Nidd has been plagued by foul sewage discharges. People across Harrogate and Knaresborough are furious about this, yet the Conservative government keeps blocking new laws to get tough on water companies.”

Read more:

• River Nidd testing begins as clean-up campaign gathers pace
• Yorkshire Water discharged sewage into River Nidd 870 times in 2022

There is no shortage of concern about the state of the River Nidd, as a busy public meeting in Knaresborough demonstrated this week.

About 70 people turned up at Gracious Street Methodist Church on Tuesday to listen to academics, anglers, environmentalists and politicians and to find out how they could get involved in the attempt to achieve bathing water status.

Just two rivers in England — the Wharfe in Ilkley and Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxfordshire — currently have bathing water status, which obliges the Environment Agency to put plans in place to monitor and protect the water.

Nidd Action Group has been set up to coordinate the initiative.

James McKay, a Knaresborough resident and manager of the Water-Wiser centre at the University of Leeds, told the Stray Ferret at last week’s meeting Nidd sampling had begun and the campaign had the funds and expertise to achieve its goal.

Mr McKay said the group needed to demonstrate enough people used the river recreationally for the campaign to be successful.

James McKay speaking at the meeting

He said the process of achieving bathing water status wasn’t easy but “it’s the only thing we can do to make a real difference to water companies”.

Mr McKay said water companies were obliged in 2023 to update their water resource management plans for the next five years and the goal was to achieve bathing water status by then. He added:

“If we succeed it won’t have an immediate effect. The first thing that would happen is Yorkshire Water would have to do its own sampling. But over the next couple of years it could start to make a big difference.”

Untreated sewage

Although Knaresborough Lido is the focus of the campaign, if bathing water status is achieved it would bring improvements to the upper reaches of the 56-mile Nidd, including around Pateley Bridge, which flow into the Lido.

Alan Paterson addressing the meeting 

Alan Paterson, of Nidd Action Group, told the meeting the three main causes of river pollution were sewage, agricultural contaminants and urban run-off. He said the first two were the main issues affecting the Nidd.

In 2021, Yorkshire Water pumped untreated sewage from 81 locations into the River Nidd 2,552 times – for 18,346 hours, or 764 days.

Mr Paterson said Yorkshire Water’s plans to clean-up the Nidd were “good but would take far too long” and bathing water status would oblige it to act sooner.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has led on the campaign to achieve bathing water status and has been looking for volunteers to undertake surveys before he can submit an application. He has also raised the matter in Parliament.

Mr Jones wasn’t at the meeting but Stephen Culpin, a member of his office, was. Mr Culpin said afterwards the intention was to finalise and submit the application by the end of October.

Mr Jones (left) with Frank Maguire, the owner of Knareborough Lido.

The government’s record on sewage discharge has been fiercely debated. Mr Paterson said declining funding to key regulators such as the Environment Agency suggested ministers did not take the issue that seriously but he added that although the action group was “entirely apolitical”, Mr Jones deserved praise for his efforts.

“If he gets some brownie points then fair play to him because we need that bathing water status to improve the quality of water Yorkshire Water is discharging. I’d be deliriously happy if my MP, Julian Smith (the Conservative for Skipton and Ripon) got involved but he hasn’t.”

Mr Paterson added “rivers should be safe and clean to play and bathe in — it’s a right, not a privilege” and people attending the meeting were encouraged to volunteer by undertaking roles such as counting river users.

Wild swimming

Numerous groups attended the meeting but some river users, such as wild swimmers and kayakers, weren’t and some felt the campaign still needed joining-up more.

But the turnout and enthusiasm generated widespread optimism that people might soon be able to swim in the Nidd without a high risk of falling ill, as happened last summer.

Tuesday’s meeting at Gracious Street Methodist Church

Shan Oakes, a Knaresborough town councillor and member of Harrogate and District Green Party said:

“It was a hugely successful event and I feel confident that more like it will follow, bringing the community together to try to stop the pollution and bring back life to our lovely river.”

Yorkshire Water ‘keen to work in partnership’

Two days after the meeting, councillors on North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee questioned a representative of Yorkshire Water as the issue of bathing water status was aired again.

Monika Slater, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park, told the meeting Leeds University researchers were now taking Nidd samples monthly and this would increase to fortnightly in May.

But she added the samples had so far discovered the harmful bacteria E. coli was at “concerningly high” levels.

Bilton Conservation Society is also sampling at Oak Beck, which empties in the Nidd at Bilton.

Sarah Robinson, from the corporate affairs team at Yorkshire Water, told the meeting:

“There are lots of influences on bathing water quality. It isn’t just about our assets — in some ways that would be easier because we could control that. “

The big issue for the Nidd, Ms Robinson added, was going to be agriculture, such as chemical run-off caused by farmers’ sprays. Dogs running in water also had “a massive impact”, she added. But she said the company was “very keen to work in partnership” to address problems.

The next six months will determine whether the good intentions, and the disparate interests, can be harnessed to achieve real change for the Nidd.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has said the campaign to improve water quality in the River Nidd at Knaresborough is “gaining momentum” and he is “confident” of success.

Mr Jones’ comments came after he discussed the matter with environmental quality minister Rebecca Pow this week.

According to his Community News website, Mr Jones briefed Ms Pow about water quality issues in the Nidd and his proposal to designate the Lido in Knaresborough as an area of Bathing Water Quality.

Concerns about Nidd water quality increased in summer this year following reports of numerous people falling ill after entering the water.

Knaresborough Lido

If the bathing water bid is successful, the Environment Agency would be obliged to put plans in place to monitor and protect the water. The River Wharfe in Mr Jones’ native Ilkley is currently the only inland water in the UK with bathing water status.

The Conservative MP said:

“Next May is the critical time as that is when the evidence must be collected to make a Bathing Water Quality application to DEFRA.  In between now and then I am ensuring that we have the maximum support possible lined up behind the application.

“I’ve spoken to residents and businesses, councillors, MPs in Commons debates and now directly to the minister.  It feels like the campaign is gathering momentum and I am confident that we will be successful.”

Read more:

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Following her meeting with Mr Jones in the House of Commons, Ms Pow said:

“It was very good to learn more about Andrew’s campaign and see the passion to improve water quality on the River Nidd.

“I was particularly pleased to see the depth of community interest and support.

“Improving water is a priority for the government, and we are actively encouraging communities to apply for bathing water status. There are so many elements to our work, but team working and local passion are at the heart of making progress.”

The possibility of the River Nidd at Knaresborough achieving bathing water status has been debated in Parliament.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones secured the adjournment debate for the topic last night.

The Conservative told the house he wanted to achieve the status for the area at the Lido Leisure Park, which could become one of just a handful of rivers in the country to have it. He said:

“Of course the issue of water quality is not confined to one area, and while we have many designated bathing areas around our coast, there are very few inland areas and those few are overwhelmingly lakes, not rivers.

“Indeed, looking at the data from the Outdoor Swimming Society, 98% of areas with bathing water status are coastal.

“There is one river in our area of Yorkshire that has achieved that status, and it is the River Wharfe in Ilkley…

“The purpose of seeking this debate was to highlight that many more rivers must be awarded bathing water status right across our country and to promote our campaign for the River Nidd in Knaresborough.”

Mr Jones posted this picture with Frank Maguire, owner of the lido caravan park, on his website.

Mr Jones recently visited the 550-home lido, which is the focus of his campaign.

He told Parliament the recently-passed Environment Act would help progress measures to improve water quality by requiring combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to be monitored all the time. This would show how often and how much sewage was discharged into rivers including the Nidd.

In response, Trudy Harrison, parliamentary under-secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, said:

“Our aim is to announce which new sites will be eligible to be designated before the start of the next bathing season, which is officially May 15, 2023, so get your Speedos ready—other outfits are available.

“We look forward to receiving the application for the River Nidd in the very near future, and I will be delighted to work with my honourable friend, the member for Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Read more:

• Campaign launched to achieve bathing water status on River Nidd
• Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd

Speaking to today’s meeting of North Yorkshire County Council‘s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee, Mr Jones said he had contacted numerous local organisations about the river.

He said the owners of the lido, as well as landowners along the river, the Nidd Catchment Angling group, and wild swimming groups had all been contacted to ask for their support.

However, Liberal Democrats questioned why Mr Jones had not spoken to the area constituency committee, when they had raised the issue at a previous meeting and had been working with local volunteers to make progress.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough East, said:

“Can I ask why, months later, you have announced you are doing exactly the same? Rather than duplicating effort, will you pledge to put your support behind the work of the area committee, local town councillors and our community in Knaresborough?

“This report is going to take hours of volunteer work to gain the evidence required. This is a team effort, as you mentioned, but it’s a community effort and the area committee are at the forefront of that, along with our Knaresborough town councillors.”

Mr Jones said he recognised it was a team effort and would require the involvement of both local and national government, as well as community groups and businesses.

However, he said the area constituency committee had not contacted him about its plans, so he had been “getting on with it”.

He added:

“I hope that we can all work together on this matter because I don’t think it will be achieved individually. Many actions will need to come together.”

Organisations have agreed to work together to achieve designated bathing water status on the River Nidd at Knaresborough.

Longstanding concerns about water quality were heightened in summer when people and dogs fell ill after entering the Nidd.

If the bathing water bid is successful, the Environment Agency would be obliged to put plans in place to monitor and protect the water.

Not a single waterway in North Yorkshire currently has bathing water status but the River Wharfe in Ilkley has achieved it.

Knaresborough has been chosen because of the amount of  recreational river users it attracts, but if the campaign succeeds the rest of the Nidd would also benefit from the measures introduced.

Anglers, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, Leeds University, councillors and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, are among those involved after a meeting this month.

They must demonstrate the river attracts a large number of bathers and has support for such a move. Landowners must also support applications for privately owned sites.

Shan Oakes

Shan Oakes, a Green Party councillor in Knaresborough chairing the group, said the government was not setting high enough water quality standards and action was necessary. Ms Oakes, who is also on Knaresborough Town Council, added:

“It’s not going to be a quick fix. We need to consult with a lot of groups.”

Read more:

• Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd
• UK’s largest weir removal project begins on River Nidd at Scotton

Last week Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East on North Yorkshire County Council, agreed to chair a cross-party sub-group of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee that will examine the issue. She said:

“We are well placed to achieve this but we need the support of the community and the town council.”

Knaresborough lido, which is particularly popular with recreational river users, will probably be the focus of the campaign. Cllr Gostlow said:

“The river plays a big part in the local economy but people are getting ill so we need to do something.”

She added she hoped the campaign might succeed by summer 2024.

Action by anglers

Campsites, caravan parks and holiday cottages in the Harrogate district are expecting people to go “staycation crazy” over the remaining summer months.

Toni Fernandes is the general manager of the Lido Leisure Park near Knaresborough. It has around 500 caravans that are used throughout the year as second homes. He told the Stray Ferret he was “very, very happy” with the announcement yesterday that they can finally reopen and he has already been inundated with owners who can’t wait to return to the site on July 4.

He said:

“I think there will be a queue! We’ve put a lot of measures in place for the café and the restaurant and the environment is safe for people to isolate themselves.”

He also said that a busy Lido will provide a much-needed boost to the Knaresborough and Harrogate high streets.

He added:

“We can have 2000 people here. The impact that it has on the high street in Knaresborough and Harrogate is massive. We hope opening will really help the local businesses and the economy. We’re very excited and I think staycations are going to go crazy.”

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In Summerbridge, Rosemary Helme owns several holiday cottages that will be open for guests from July 4. She still has vacancies for the rest of the summer and is hopeful that people will be taking advantage of their self-catering facilities.

She welcomed the announcement from the government yesterday on reopening but said guidance on what they are supposed to provide for guests remains “confusing”, especially around cleaning. She said they will be opting for a common-sense approach.

“We’re talking about taking out books, games and things people can move. But you can’t clean a pack of cards for instance, or not without difficulty!”

Nearby in Pateley Bridge, Trevor Brohier and his wife Jules are gearing up to welcome guests to Moorhouse Cottage, which includes both a B&B and self-catering facilities.

Moorhouse Cottage.

Mr Brohier told the Stray Ferret that they are excited to get their business going again.

To begin with, the B&B only be open on weekends to give them a chance to deep clean after guests leave.

He said:

“That will have a really negative effect on turnover but we’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Whilst Mr Brohier said the B&B experience will be as close to normal as possible, fans of familiar B&B staple, the full English breakfast, will have to wait a while longer — as all cooked breakfasts will be off the menu for the time being.