Bathing water: Fewer sick swimmers (Diana Wallis MEP)

Diana Wallis MEP <info@dianawallismep.org.uk>

Bathing water: Fewer sick swimmers

January 19, 2006 12:00 AM

Beach at Scarborough Local Lib Dem Euro MP Diana Wallis has said that the vote in the European Parliament on the quality of bathing water should reduce the risk to health for swimmers, surfers and others on Yorkshire's beaches.

The European Parliament approved with 584 votes in favour and 11 against (56 abstentions) the controversial outcome of a tough conciliation agreement reached in October between Parliament and Council on the revised directive on the quality of bathing water.

Diana Wallis MEP, Yorkshire & the Humber, welcomed the result as a victory for public health.

"We have obtained a substantial reduction of the health risks to bathers. The risk of falling ill (mainly digestive or respiratory illnesses) will fall from 12% to 8% in 2015. This is good news for bathers and surfers on Yorkshire's beaches."

Public information will also be improved. The information will be almost instantaneous, easier to find on the web and also visible at bathing sites. Currently, the information made available to the public on the internet is outdated by about a year.

"I am particularly happy the bathing water information will be available at bathing sites with symbols that are the same across the EU as people rarely bring their laptops to the beach!" said Diana Wallis.

Last but not least, the new Directive, updating the previous one from 1976, will be less bureaucratic. "From now on, instead of 19 parameters for assessment, scrutiny will focus on the two parameters of most concern to public health. This will save costs for local authorities and makes the Directive easier to comply with." Ms. Wallis went on to say.