Marlene Lawrence

Marlene Lawrence is a campaigner who has been instrumental in the designation of the River Thames at Ham in south-west London as the first official bathing water area in the city. Her efforts, along with other campaigners, involved gathering evidence to demonstrate the significant public use of this stretch of the river for swimming. This designation marks a milestone, allowing the area to be monitored as part of England's growing network of safe swimming locations. Despite the positive development, recent news highlights a concern regarding toxic blue-green algae blooms at the site, likely exacerbated by extreme heat, low river flow, and nutrient pollution from sewage. This poses a current challenge to the intended use of the bathing spot, underscoring the ongoing need for water quality management and environmental improvements in the Thames.