Landmark barristers successfully represent Friends of the River Wye in challenge to Welsh Minister's decision to deny River Wye site bathing status

Following receipt of a pre-action letter from the Friends of the River Wye, the Welsh Ministers have announced (here) that they have reconsidered their decision not to identify waters at The Warren, Hay-on-Wye, as a bathing site under the Bathing Standards Regulations 2013 and will now add to the Welsh Government’s list of bathing sites. The consequence will be that environmental regulators will need to start monitoring water quality and, if standards are not met, put in place measures to meet them.

Alex Goodman KC and Matthew Dale-Harris acted for the Friends of the River Wye, instructed by Lochlinn Parker of the Good Law Practice. The pre-action letter alleged that the Welsh Ministers had misunderstood the statutory tests to be applied under the Bathing Standards Regulations 2013.

Press coverage here.