Crime & Safety
Sewage fears at Wallingford Beach as it reopens for summer
Wallingford Beach, known locally as Sandy Bay due to the stretch of sand on the river bank next to Wallingford Bridge, was designated as a bathing place in 2024.
This means the Environment Agency must take weekly water samples from the site during the warmer months, from May 15 to September 10, and test them for two types of bacteria which can cause serious illness.
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The results are published within a few days of each test, on a dedicated page online, but many have said they wouldn’t go for a splash even with the bacteria levels being monitored.
One anonymous local said: “I wouldn’t let my dog swim in the river, let alone human members of my family.”
Wallingford Beach was one of just two inland river bathing sites in the country to be rated ‘sufficient’ last season, an improvement on its first ever rating of ‘poor’ in 2024.
But would-be river users aren’t impressed with the rating.
Another anonymous person commented: “Seriously we need to clean up the rivers. How can a council have a bathing area on the Thames? The river is basically an open sewer.”
It comes after Channel 4 documentary Dirty Business revealed the scale of sewage pollution in waterways in Oxfordshire, based on the work of the campaign group Windrush Against Sewage Pollution.
Oxfordshire county councillor for Wallingford, James Barlow (Green), said while he still swims it is ‘disgraceful’ that measures have to be taken to avoid getting ill.
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Mr Barlow said: “There are many stretches of the Thames that are clean enough for bathing.
“For us in Wallingford, Bathing Water Status offers not just regular testing but also the legal mechanisms to force Thames Water to clean up its act to make Wallingford Beach consistently clean enough to swim in, by, for example potentially installing further treatment operations at Benson Sewage Treatment Works which would likely lead to improvements.
“Along with others, I have been regularly and safely swimming in the Thames at Wallingford, year-round, for years, and continue to do so. I understand residents’ scepticism about swimming at Wallingford Beach.
“That the bathing water quality is officially only ‘sufficient’ is a real cause for concern – the impact on nature, including humans is unacceptable.
“As a result, we take sensible precautions – like showering afterwards and not putting our faces in the water. It is disgraceful that we need to do this.”
The councillor added that he, amongst many others, continues to campaign for the Government to force companies like Thames Water to clean up its act and would see the water companies brought back into public ownership.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Last year, Wallingford Beach was rated ‘sufficient’ in the Bathing Water Quality report, one of only two inland river bathing sites in the country to receive this designation.
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“There were no storm overflows from Thames Water sites within 5km of Wallingford Beach during the last bathing season.
“We are always committed to seeing waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone. Farming, industry, road runoff, and increasingly extreme weather also play a role in river health.
“We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and local partners to understand where improvements to our assets might be required in future, so that communities can continue to enjoy the bathing water.”
Daniel Wadsworth has been named independent chair of the Greater Leys Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board in Oxford.
He will guide the delivery of a 10-year, government-funded scheme focused on strengthening and improving the local area.
Mr Wadsworth said: “This is a once in a generation chance to make a huge difference to the Leys.
“It’s a chance for people to come together and have their say on what they feel is needed and what they’d like to have in the future.
“I’m very honoured to be playing a part in this and look forward to working with everyone to make this happen.”
A resident of Greater Leys since 2015, Mr Wadsworth has lived in Oxford for 30 years and brings significant experience to the role.
He is director of Jessop and Cook Architects and has served as a parish councillor for Blackbird Leys and chair of several organisations, including the children’s charity Parasol Project.
He currently chairs The Leys CDI.
Mr Wadsworth will lead the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board in developing a long-term vision and investment plan for Greater Leys.
The 10-year plan must be approved by central government to unlock phased funding under the scheme.
He will also ensure the programme remains community-driven.
Recruitment for the chair position involved an extensive engagement process.
A selection panel conducted interviews and included Anneliese Dodds MP, Oxford City councillor Linda Smith, and the locality manager for the Leys.
A community advisory panel, including representatives from youth groups, community organisations, and the Tenant Involvement Panel, also contributed to the process.
Ms Dodds said: “The Pride in Place programme gives local residents control over a pot of £20 million to spend on their priorities, in their area, over the next ten years.
“As the Chair of this programme we needed a Greater Leys resident who was in touch with and committed to the local community.
“Our open and thorough recruitment process has found exactly such a person – Dan Wadsworth.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved and look forward to the next stages of the programme and what it can achieve.”
The next step will be to recruit members for the Neighbourhood Board.
It will be largely made up of local residents, community members, and representatives from voluntary organisations, and will also include at least one councillor and the local MP.
Councillor Smith said: “Dan Wadsworth is a local resident of Greater Leys with a track record of commitment and involvement in the local community as well as the necessary skills to lead this major programme of investment in Greater Leys.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he delivers real improvements and benefits for local people.”
The kids arrived on Monday, May 18, and are already proving popular with everyone who visits the farm.
One of the farm’s original goats, donated by Norton & Yarrow Cheese, gave birth to the healthy twins at around 10:00am and 10:20am.
Bradley Soule, community grower at Oxford City Farm, said: “It was great timing.
“The kids were born on Monday morning, and later that day we welcomed a new group for our monthly goat milking training.
“It meant trainees got to meet the farm’s newest arrivals straight away, which is a really special introduction to life on the farm.”
Oxford City Farm is a community-led urban farm in East Oxford that offers people of all ages the chance to connect with food, farming and nature.
The farm runs regular goat-milking training sessions and welcomes visitors to learn more about animal care, small-scale farming, and food production.
Nicole Titera, farm lead at Oxford City Farm, said: “As a registered charity, Oxford City Farm relies on donations, fundraising, and income from produce and activities to continue delivering its community programmes.
“Every visit, purchase and donation helps us keep the farm open and accessible to the community.”
The farm is open to visitors and volunteers from 10am to 1pm every Friday and Saturday.
The club will open its gates at 11am on Saturday, June 20, for the day.
Veterans, serving personnel, military families, and the public are being invited to attend the event, which aims to both celebrate and unite the armed forces community.
A range of activities, food, and refreshments will be available at the club on the day.
These will include bacon rolls and bowls sessions from 11am, lunch at 12.30pm, and a community bowls match at 2pm.
The Little Troopers charity, which provides support to military children separated from their families due to service life and deployment, has been selected as the beneficiary of the event.
Raffle prizes and donations are being requested to help contribute towards raising funds for the charity.
The event is being organised by Charlbury Bowls Club and military TBI campaigner, Kate England.
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