§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the Environment Agency has not adopted(a) Palm Bay 438W and (b) Kingsgate Bay in Cliftonville as designated areas for Beachwater Microbiological Assays of Pathogens. [47248]
§ Angela EagleNo applications have been received by my Department for Palm Bay and Kingsgate Bay to be identified as bathing waters under the Bathing Water Directive, which would in turn require regular water quality sampling by the Environment Agency. I understand that neither bay is likely to fulfil the Directive's definition of a bathing water, which is where bathing is traditionally practised by a large number of bathers, nor do they possess facilities associated with popular bathing areas.