Local MP, Munira Wilson, has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds MP, to express her support for the application for bathing water status at the River Thames at Ham and Kingston.

In her letter, Munira Wilson MP wrote: "The River Thames is woven into the very the fabric of our community - from Eel Pie Island to Teddington Lock, to the shores of the White Swan pub and the crossing at Hammerton's Ferry.

"On any given day, our beautiful river and its banks are alive with people and families enjoying nature, including paddle boarding, boating, rowing and swimming.

"I'm grateful to the Teddington Bluetits and the Ham & Kingston Bathers, two of our local wild swimming groups, who were behind the application for bathing water status.

"Alongside the wild swimmers, our area is home to countless sporting groups that host activities on the river: Twickenham Rowing Club, Twickenham Yacht Club, Tamesis Club, Royal Canoe Club and The Lensbury, just to name a few.

"Many of these include activities for children and young people, and we are also home to the Twickenham Sea Cadets, whose unit has been recognised as one of the top Sea Cadet units in the UK.

"Making the River Thames at Ham and Kingston the first-ever designated bathing spot in London would be a huge boon not just for local residents, but also for Londoners as a whole.

"This would represent wonderful recognition of the place our precious river has in our local community, whilst ensuring that the water quality is safe and healthy for everyone."

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The MP also mentions the need to scrap Thames Water's Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) project.

She wrote: "I must also mention that, with the Government acknowledging the need to improve waterquality in our rivers, I hope your department will also heed my and campaigners' calls to scrap Thames Water's proposals to pump treated effluent into the river Thames at Teddington.

"These proposals are fundamentally incompatible with improving water quality along our precious stretch of the River Thames, and it is difficult to see how bathing water status could go ahead alongside the Thames Water Direction River Abstraction (TDRA) proposals.

"By scrapping the TDRA and granting bathing water status along this stretch of the river, the Government has a unique opportunity to demonstrate a clear commitment to making sure our rivers are safe and clean for everyone."

In response to the letter, a Thames Water spokesperson told Nub News: "We're supportive of all river users and are committed to playing our part in improving the local environment and River Thames. 

"Our proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction project is nationally significant and would keep the taps flowing for millions of Londoners, supplying up to 75 million litres of water each day during times of drought.

"We'd like to reassure river users that the project would not deteriorate water quality and would meet water quality standards set by the Environment Agency. The new treated water outfall is also located downstream of the proposed bathing water site, meaning recycled water would flow downstream over the Teddington weir, into the tidal Thames."