Campaigners behind the previously successful ‘No Poo at The Point’ campaign for Bembridge have launched a new initiative, Swim at the Point’, aimed at securing official Bathing Water Status for Silver Sands Beach, in a bid to safeguard the popular beauty spot from future sewage discharges.
Earlier this month, Southern Water withdrew plans to install a combined sewer overflow (CSO) at Silver Sands Beach following opposition from the local community through the ‘No Poo at The Point’ campaign, as reported by Island Echo.
However, organisers say the issue has not gone away, with the underlying sewage overflow problem remaining unresolved.
Southern Water is currently considering temporary storage tanks as a short-term solution, but campaigners warn that a CSO could still be proposed in the future unless Silver Sands Beach gains official Bathing Water Status.
The newly-launched ‘Swim at The Point’ campaign will now seek to apply to DEFRA for Bathing Water Status for the beach.
Campaigners say one of Southern Water’s original arguments was that The Point is not an official bathing beach, despite its popularity with both residents and visitors throughout the year. 
If successful, the designation would require the Environment Agency to regularly monitor water quality, while the local authority would be responsible for displaying the results at the beach. Organisers say it would also help ensure polluters are held to account and prevent future sewage discharges.
As part of the application process, DEFRA requires evidence of how the beach is used by the public.
The campaign is therefore asking residents and visitors to complete a short survey detailing activities such as swimming, paddling, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, dog walking and other recreational use of the water.
Campaigners also need volunteers to help count the number of swimmers using the beach during August, as part of the evidence needed to demonstrate the site’s popularity for bathing during the summer months.
The campaign has already received backing from local businesses, Bembridge Parish Council and Surfers Against Sewage, which has provided funding towards the project.
An open meeting will be held on the village green at The Point from 10:00 until 12:00 on 22nd August, where members of the public can find out more about the campaign, ask questions and share their views.
Further information, including survey forms, is available from Bembridge Parish Council, on the ‘Swim at The Point’ Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
