Latest News.
Thank you Christchurch from the bottom of our hearts
September 2026 Statement
Thank you Christchurch from the bottom of our hearts.
On Tuesday evening the 1st of September 2026 you showed how much the health of Christchurch waters means to the residents of Christchurch.
Imagine if just a handful of people had turned up, what message would that have sent to all the authorities who can affect change, BCP, the Environment Agency, Wessex Water, the National Farmers Union and Natural England?
Instead 505 gathered inside the Regent Centre with not one spare seat and an estimate of 300 people unable to get in. To those outside our sincere apologies but grateful thanks because you, by turning up, sent further proof of the passion this subject brings.
Christchurch has had enough, this time we will not back off. It has been raised as an issue before and then left to fade away. Right now we are gathering an army of people from all walks of life, local residents and representatives of all the groups that use the harbour and who care for the wildlife that uses it. This time the momentum will be impossible to stop.
The 1st September 2026 will go down as the day that things changed. After 4 years of gathering data on the health of our waters we were able to measure the spike in E-Coli readings as 'something' made its way through the Harbour over a 4/5 day period. E-Coli levels were already causing concern but this time it was different.
Since the Regent Centre meeting things have escalated dramatically, change is afoot and everyone involved in the issues of our river health know that thousands of eyes are watching, change needs to happen.
Our approach has always been to gather accurate and reliable data and to work with all those involved. We are grateful to everyone who has worked with us but we are going to intensify and increase the evidence gathering. The number of testing sites is going to increase dramatically thanks to some very generous groups. We are shortly going to be launching a GoFundMe campaign so the Christchurch Community can own the data, no one else. We will be using 3rd party laboratories to verify everything to the highest standards. Inspired by others we wish to be the benchmark group for such a data and knowledge gathering campaign.
Let's be clear, we are doing this for the natural world, for those young now, for future generations, for swimmers, for water sports users and those with immune deficiencies. To our politicians we say 'we know it's not easy' but we are demanding you act.
To all those who are passionate about the health of our waters please help us make sure this remains up in the top tier of the things that needs dealing with (we know there are other issues in this world) and please don't vote for politicians who don't feel the same way.
Thank you all so much for your support on Tuesday 1st September 2026. We promise you we won't let you down.
Martin Stewart
On behalf of everyone involved with CHAMS and the quest for clean water.
Christchurch Harbour is Particularly Vulnerable
August 22nd 2026 Statement
We so didn't want to have to write this message, but on 15th & 19th August, according to our tests, E-Coli levels have spiked alarmingly in the Stour and our first tests in the river Mude are also very high.
We have notified the Environment Agency and have asked if they could verify our data, but tests carried out in the Avon between our Stour tests show our equipment to be working fine. The Environment Agency do not carry out any regular testing but we were hoping that they would get back to us before close of play yesterday.
The Stour has shown a level above 100,000 cfu's per 100ml of water (cfu's - colony forming units).
A subsequent test was higher and today's test is heading the same way, We will have the result around 9pm tonight. Remember 500 units and over indicates unsafe levels and over 1,000 one should not be swimming.
The Mude was also over 100,000 yesterday.
All our latest data has gone back through 'Planet Ocean' to 'Fluidon' (the manufacturers of our equipment) who have verified our data. In summary something occurred in the Stour last week that spiked the E-Coli levels' Levels that have since returned to their previous (still too high) readings.
As a minimum, water sport participants need to know, people with immune deficiency surely need to stay clear of the water at least until we have had the situation clarified.
We so hope we are proved wrong, but we have been testing for E-Coli for a year now and have been getting consistent and relatively low level readings until now.
We have heard of plenty of illness issues already. We don't need it to get worse. We are so sorry to be the bearer of such news.
To find out more we recommend interested community members attend this event on 1st September and also sign up to our email newsletter to be kept up to date with our findings.
Sincerely, CH&MS
June 2026 Statement
If someone was to ask what the single key message was that has come from the 4 years of water testing that has been carried out by our small group within CH&MS, it has to be the stark realisation of just how vulnerable Christchurch Harbour is. Vulnerable, primarily, because of the abuse and pressure our two major rivers are subjected to.
Christchurch Harbour is tiny (with maybe by some estimates as little as a 15th of the water volume of Poole Harbour) with a small outflow restricted further by the double high tides and the lowest tidal range of any Harbour along the central south coast. Having to deal with high levels of Nitrates (primarily (but not exclusively) leaching off farmland) and Phosphates (exacerbated by an inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure) is too much to ask the Harbour to cope with. If one examines the sheer scale of the catchment area of the Stour and the Avon it is no wonder that Christchurch Harbour needs (and deserves) a serious level of proactive protection.
30 years ago, excess sewage flows would have ended up in Poole Bay, now, in order to help protect the tourism industry that excess goes to the sewage treatment plants along the Stour, and when they can’t cope with the scale of contaminated water, it ends up heading towards our overstretched Harbour.
We are already seeing the effects of high nitrates on invasive weed and algal growth and subsequent adverse effects on the resident and migrating bird populations but add to that invisible arrival of high phosphates and forever chemicals coming down the rivers, it is easy to understand our concerns.
We have been monitoring E-Coli levels since last August and by the end of last summer they had reached very concerning levels. Those levels have eased over the winter but our weekly testing of both the Stour and Avon has shown them slowly rising, something we will be communicating to the local watersports organisations.
The new Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO) is planning to introduce 100’s if not 1000’s of new water sports users to the Harbour some with compromised immune systems, it is crucial that they are kept abreast of relevant data. HHO are being very proactive with decontamination procedures with people coming off the water and working with all the other water sports clubs in the vicinity to help raise awareness - whilst at the same time pushing for bathing quality standards and working with Wessex Water to get live time monitoring on site
It’s not exclusively sewage of course, there is the road system, the cattle farming and the many old landfill sites up river, but someone has to take a lead on this. The Environment Agency is massively under funded and while the recent Channel 4 docu/drama ‘Dirty Business’ will have caused the EA leadership some serious embarrassment the teams on the ground care and want to help. We see our role as collecting consistent relevant data to help keep a focus on The Harbour
Our immediate concern has been the almost total lack of concern shown by the responsible parties at BCP. Back in March 2025 following the largest protest ever held outside the Civic Centre they were presented with a 4,000 signature petition and a ‘ready to go’ Environmental Protection Policy for Christchurch Harbour. It was voted for UNANIMOUSLY at the Full Council Meeting that evening, but ever since it has been brushed under the carpet. There are too many vested interests at play but all the while Christchurch Harbour is bearing the brunt.
Things are about to heat up. On July 15th the Environment & Place Committee are to discuss ‘what to do next with the Policy’ this has got to be Christchurch’s big moment.
We intend to be there.
Martin Stewart
Chairman
CH&MS
CH&MS Community Protest Highlights Need for Christchurch Harbour Protection Policy
25 March 2025
Members of the Christchurch Harbour & Marine Society joined more than 150 local residents outside BCP Council offices to demonstrate support for stronger protections for Christchurch Harbour and its surrounding waterways.
The peaceful protest took place ahead of a council debate on a petition signed by more than 4,400 residents calling for the adoption of a dedicated Christchurch Harbour Protection Policy. Protesters gathered to raise awareness of ongoing concerns around sewage pollution, water quality, and the impact of development on the harbour's fragile ecosystem.
Representatives from CH&MS were proud to stand alongside local residents, environmental organisations, water users, anglers, sailors, paddleboarders and wildlife enthusiasts who share a common goal: protecting the future of Christchurch Harbour.
During the council meeting, CH&MS Secretary Vanessa Ricketts presented the petition and outlined the need for stronger measures to safeguard the harbour from pollution and environmental degradation. The proposal received widespread support from councillors and was approved to move forward for further consideration.
The demonstration marked an important moment for the local community, highlighting the growing public concern for the health of the harbour and the desire to see meaningful action taken to protect this unique and valuable natural asset.
We would like to thank everyone who attended, supported the campaign, signed the petition, and continues to help raise awareness of the challenges facing Christchurch Harbour. Together, we are ensuring that the harbour's voice is heard.
For updates on the Harbour Protection Policy and future campaigns, follow CH&MS on Facebook.
