An application to achieve designated bathing water status for the river Deben at Woodbridge has failed, as the number of swimmers already using the river was deemed to be too low.

Last year, campaign group Save the Deben applied for designated bathing water status for sections of the river at Woodbridge and Waldringfield, which would mean it is safe for swimming.

However, its bid for designated bathing water status at Waldringfield will move forward to the next stage of the process.

The group today heard from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that it has not met the criteria set out in their regulations and its application for Woodbridge will not be taken forward.

East Anglian Daily Times: Suffolk County Councillor Caroline Page and Ruth Leach, co-founders of Save the Deben.Suffolk County Councillor Caroline Page and Ruth Leach, co-founders of Save the Deben. (Image: Ruth Leach)

Town councillor Ruth Leach, co-founder of Save the Deben, said she was "shocked and surprised" that Woodbridge did not meet the criteria.

She added: "If the numbers were too low, surely it's because swimmers are scared off by the seven sewage outlet points draining into the river in the Woodbridge stretch.

"However, the bather count average of 58 swimmers a day during the recent summer heatwave peak season shows that it is still clearly a bathing area."

Cllr Leach went on to say that it was "outrageous" that the hundreds of dinghy sailors, paddle boarders, kayakers and anglers were not included in this count.

East Anglian Daily Times: Swimmers preparing to take the plunge into the river Deben in Winter.Swimmers preparing to take the plunge into the river Deben in Winter. (Image: Save the Deben)

The application for Woodbridge included 1158 pledges of support, as well as letters from the parish, town, district and county councils, and national stakeholders such as Anglian Water and the National Trust.

Caroline Page, co-founder of Save the Deben and a Woodbridge county councillor who is battling terminal cancer, said: "It means I will never in my lifetime be able to swim again in the Deben at Woodbridge.

"I cannot tell you what a loss this is."

READ MORE: River rights declared as crowds protest 'bad state' of Deben

Save the Deben's application for Waldringfield will  be taken to public consultation between March 10 and a final decision is expected after it closes on March 24.