River Fowey at Lostwithiel Designated Official Bathing Water Site

Lostwithiel Swimmers Just Got the News They’ve Been Waiting For

For years, locals have wanted to know one simple thing before wading into the River Fowey at Lostwithiel: is the water actually safe? From this summer, they’ll finally have an answer backed by routine testing.

The River Fowey at Lostwithiel has officially been designated as a bathing water site ahead of the 2026 bathing season, a result that follows sustained campaigning by Anna Gelderd MP, residents, and community groups calling for stronger protection of the river.

What the new status actually means

The designation places the site under routine Environment Agency testing throughout the bathing season, which runs from 15th May to 30th September each year. Those tests will monitor water quality, and results will be published publicly so swimmers can check the state of the water before getting in.

A community-led result

Local residents, councillors and groups including Lostwithiel Environment Action Forum fed into the consultation that led to the decision. The press release credits their work as central to securing the outcome and to keeping pressure on those responsible for the health of local waterways.

Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, said:

“I am so delighted that the River Fowey at Lostwithiel has been designated as an official bathing water site. This is a major step forward for our area. It means local people can enjoy swimming here with far greater confidence in the water quality. As a keen open water swimmer myself, since I was elected I’ve been 100% supportive of this campaign.

“This achievement is the result of real community effort. I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation, as well as Cllr Sarah Preece and community groups like Lostwithiel Environment Action Forum, who have worked tirelessly to push this forward.

“Local people have been speaking with me about this for some time and it’s been a part of my campaign for improved water quality across South East Cornwall. Today’s announcement is a positive milestone for Lostwithiel, reflecting our strong community collaboration and I’m pleased designation is in place before the start of this year’s bathing season.”

Sarah Preece, Councillor for Lostwithiel and Lanreath, added:

“As the councillor for Lostwithiel I am delighted to have been able to play a small part in supporting this brilliant community initiative. Clean, healthy rivers and seas are critical for our communities and for nature. Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to deliver this.”

Part of a wider push

The designation forms part of Anna’s wider efforts to improve water quality across South East Cornwall and adds weight to ongoing calls for regulators and water companies to do more to safeguard rivers and coastal waters for communities, wildlife, and future generations.