{"id":60202,"date":"2022-01-25T16:11:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T16:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=60202"},"modified":"2022-01-25T16:41:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T16:41:41","slug":"took-a-dip-in-the-sea-penarth-bathing-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/01\/25\/took-a-dip-in-the-sea-penarth-bathing-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"I took a dip in the sea at Penarth to see why people want it to become a bathing spot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A review is ongoing about whether Penarth Beach should be given official bathing status<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A FEW miles east of Barrybados and just south of Cardiff lies the Penarth seafront, which has long been popular for its pier pavilion, cinema and pebble beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Temperatures near freezing, a gloomy sky and fog aren\u2019t your typical conditions for a quick swim in the sea. However, if you turn up at 7.30am any day of the week, you\u2019ll find at least a dozen swimmers taking a dip &#8211; even in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Welsh Government is currently reviewing whether Penarth Beach should be given bathing status.&nbsp;This would mean the beach would be tested for water quality in the summer. A bathing beach is then graded \u201cexcellent, good, sufficient or poor\u200b\u200b\u201d to inform bathers of potential hazards and protect their health from sewage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have swum in the wild before but never at Penarth &#8211; Wales\u2019 \u201cgarden by the sea\u201d &#8211; and certainly not in the middle of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1024x649.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1024x649.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-300x190.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-770x488.jpeg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1536x974.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-500x317.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-293x186.jpeg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1400x887.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1024x649.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1024x649.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-300x190.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-770x488.jpeg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1536x974.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-500x317.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-293x186.jpeg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot-1400x887.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-John-Wilmot.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Penarth Beach has long been a popular destination with its seafront, pier and beach. Photo: John Wilmot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with the bathers, the popular mobile coffee stall Stol Coffee is also present, and many are gathered around socialising.&nbsp;Needless to say the water was extremely cold. It takes a minute or two to get over the shock, but once you\u2019re out and have several layers back on, you can see why wild swimming has become such a trend in lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chris Williams, 30, from Riverside, goes wild swimming every week either at Penarth or in Jackson Bay&#8217;s.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He says: \u201cI started last June during the warmer months because a few of my friends had started doing it before me. They would just talk about how cool it was getting into the water so early in the morning before sunrise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought I\u2019d give it a go and then continued doing it about one or twice a week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Online searches for wild swimming increased by 94% between 2019 and 2020 across the UK. Google searches reached their highest ever peak in July 2021, as Wales came out of the last lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James Tennet, 34 from Penarth, was the one who requested that the Welsh Government consider Penarth Beach for bathing status.&nbsp;\u201cI\u2019ve been swimming for 14 months and I have seen a big increase over that time, but in Penarth, the Dawnstalkers have driven a lot of that,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A swimming group was set up in Penarth called the Dawnstalkers, who go down to Penarth beach every sunrise for a swim. Some swims, including the one for World Mental Health Day on October 10, had hundreds of people going into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/55265853-dd1e-44a7-a43d-afcea7544dd0.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>The Dawnstalkers enter the water at Penarth every sunrise. Photo: James Richardson, @halfwit0.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lene Hops, 25, who co-runs the group with Grant Zehetmayr, 43, says: \u201cI like that there\u2019s someone here all the time. It\u2019s my daily dose of socialising before I go and go to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Tennet submitted the request as he currently swims at Barry, the closest beach to Penarth with bathing status.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He says: \u201cI\u2019d like to swim more. I can\u2019t go to Barry during the week because of work and baby duties. If Penarth had bathing status, I would go more often.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also thinks that water testing would encourage more people to swim there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are people hesitant to swim there because no one actually knows what the water is like. The only criteria is the number of people in the water and we are seeing large numbers in Penarth. I feel the council and the government have an obligation to make sure it\u2019s safe for the people swimming in there,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local swimming groups like the Penarth Blue Tits, the Taffy Dippers, and the Dawnstalkers have helped bring attention to the consultation, as well as providing evidence for the initial request.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Tennet says he was told by the Welsh Government that the consultation had received a large response.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Hops says: \u201cA rating would obviously be great because sometimes people ask what the water is like and honestly I don\u2019t know, so it would be nice to know what we\u2019re swimming in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-770x770.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-293x293.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-770x770.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-293x293.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/179851295_845231719400601_707064131828426819_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Dexter, Mr Zehetmayr&#8217;s dog, acts as an honourary lifeguard and sometimes ventures into the water. &#8220;He\u2019s a loud lifeguard. I don\u2019t know if he\u2019d actually save someone but he\u2019d try his best,&#8221; he says. Photo: Stol Coffee, Dawnstalkers.<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Zehetmayr added: \u201cI think the fact that the water would be monitored would be fantastic. It would mean we have answers when people ask about the quality of the water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been getting in every day for over a year now and I don\u2019t get ill, but that\u2019s not necessarily a good measure for people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other residents are not as concerned about water quality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-1024x622.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-1024x622.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-770x468.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-293x178.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905.png 1110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-1024x622.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-1024x622.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-770x468.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905-293x178.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/Penarth-Beach-1905.png 1110w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>A photograph of Penarth Beach filled with holidaymakers taken in 1905. Photo: Ridley Martin, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru \u2013 The National Library of Wales, Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gail Seaford, 70, who was born in Penarth says: \u201cIt has always been a bathing beach. We used to swim there as children. I think there was sewage when we were young but it didn\u2019t do us any harm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere used to be sewage coming onto the beach near Lavernock but we just went in the water at the other end.\u201d However, Ms Seaford isn\u2019t opposed to the review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/86da2944-8e99-4a3b-a82e-13f1555da8cb.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>&#8220;In the summer I was going at sunrise like twice a day. Now I try and go two or three times a day,&#8221; says Becky Lines, Cardiff. Photo: James Richardson, @halfwit0.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Hops says: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be in there everyday. I\u2019m from Germany so I grew up landlocked. I just see the sea and I go in. I don\u2019t think about it.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She says she does not know anyone in the Dawnstalkers whose health has been affected after swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Welsh Government states: \u201cBather numbers is the criteria which the Welsh Government will apply when considering whether it is appropriate to designate a site and in particular, to any infrastructure or facilities provided, or other measures taken to promote bathing at the site.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Wales, the official bathing season runs from May 15 to September 30, with 105 identified bathing beaches. The consultation ends on February 15 and <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/bathing-water-review-2022\">can be found online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Tennett says he doesn\u2019t see any reason why the Welsh Government won\u2019t give Penarth bathing status.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s only in the best interests of keeping people swimming there safe. Swimming has built a sense of community in Penarth, and a rating can only be a good thing for tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Welsh Government is currently reviewing whether Penarth Beach should be tested for water quality<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":732,"featured_media":60210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,15,4],"tags":[181,683,1837,1310,7358,126,1271],"coauthors":[7294],"class_list":["post-60202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","category-penarth-g-q","category-sport","tag-penarth","tag-penarth-beach","tag-penarth-cardiff","tag-penarth-pier","tag-sewage","tag-welsh-government","tag-wild-swimming"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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