Consultation on the proposal to remove Tunstall Beach from the list of bathing waters

The Bathing Water Regulations (S.I.2013/1675) ("the Regulations") define a bathing water as a surface water where "...the Secretary of State expects a large number of people to bathe, having regard in particular to past trends and any infrastructure or facilities provided, or other measures taken, to promote bathing at those waters." The objective of designating a beach or inland water as a bathing water is to protect bathers' health by monitoring for intestinal enterococci and E.coli in the water. The Environment Agency (EA) takes water quality samples during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. If a bathing water is de-designated, other measures remain in place to protect the water environment generally, including the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2003, the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 and the Marine Strategy Reg