“It is shocking that for so many years people were using our river, including wild swimmers, without being given any information on the state of the water.
“So while it’s disappointing the new research suggests what we all feared - that water quality is poor - the new status means we, at last, have found out the truth about the shocking effects of local pollution.
“The next step from the government must now be a comprehensive programme of investment to begin to improve water quality of the Tone and action from the water company and others to clean up their act.
"The recent new status also means the Environment Agency has just established the necessary working party to make these plans a reality and it held its first meeting recently.
"I followed this up by meeting with the Chair of the Environment Agency and its Wessex Area Manager last week to ensure Taunton’s river will get the investment its status now demands.
"This new data strengthens the case for those investment measures which I hope will soon be designed. I’ll be keeping up the pressure.
“Meanwhile, those who love wild swimming are so right in continuing to take all the necessary precautions to stay safe and advise people to only go in at their own risk.
"And it’s great to see my Lib Dem colleagues on Taunton Town Council have built new steps and are making safety advice notices for this historic bathing spot.
"It’s been a firm favourite for Tauntonians for hundreds of years so let’s get it back to a state people can genuinely be proud of.
"That’s why I applied for the new status in the first place, working with the Friends of French Weir Park, and that’s why I’m continuing work to stop the shocking dumping of sewage in our rivers.”