Jane Dodds has asked the Welsh Government to do more to improve water quality in the River Wye.
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd there have recently been “significant developments” from a group who have applied for bathing status to be applied to a portion of the River Wye - an application which has been refused by the Government.
Video from Senedd.tv
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd there have recently been “significant developments” from a group who have applied for bathing status to be applied to a portion of the River Wye - an application which has been refused by the Government.
Video from Senedd.tv
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NewsTranscript
00:00Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Climate on pollution in the River Wye.
00:06We've had quite significant developments in the last week or so from a group who've applied
00:12for bathing status for a portion of the River Wye, which has been refused by the Welsh Government.
00:19There is a significant degree of irony in that the reason it's been refused is in order
00:25to protect biodiversity and the area from significant, perhaps, overcrowding, and yet
00:34the water remains significantly polluted and people, like me, are still swimming in it.
00:42So, I just wonder if there's an opportunity to bring people together in order to discuss
00:49the issues in the River Wye and the application for bathing status and to see whether we can
00:55move forward to make the waters cleaner for not just myself but other bathers who venture
01:01into the river.
01:02Diolch yn fawr iawn.
01:03Jane Dodds AM.
01:04Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jane Dodds, and I think you probably are referring to the part of
01:10the River Wye which is named the Warren, where, of course, very much, as you said, it's a
01:17difficult challenge, isn't it, as a site of special scientific interest, a special area
01:21of conservation, and the impact of swimming, canoeing, walkingóthe impacts have to be
01:32assessed and granted consent by NRW.
01:36So, I mean, I think my understanding is that it's not been designated for bathing water
01:45in this bathing season, but it will be considered for designation in the future.
01:50But I think the Cabinet Secretary, I'm sure, for Climate Change and Rural Affairs will
01:55want to respond to your suggestion, your proposal, that people could be brought together to look
02:02at these interacting needs of that wonderful part of Wales, which you cherish and we cherish,
02:10of course, as a site of special scientific interest but also a site where swimming particularly
02:18is cherished and valued.