Beaches in England given Blue Flag award

More than 50 beaches were awarded the Blue Flag award after meeting standards

By Nicole Hamer |

12:23 22 May 2013

When you think of a beach, many will imagine some far off distant shore and not one from the UK. Well, at least 50 beaches in England have been awarded with the Blue Flag award this year.

 

A total of 55 beaches in England have been handed the Blue Flag award this 2013 for having met EU standards. This includes areas such as matters relating to water.

 

It is understood that the bar was raised this year as opposed to previous years as standards were different.

 

It is Keep Britain Tidy, a campaign organisation whose website states; ‘Working together for cleaner, greener places’, who operates the awards system.

 

Thanet, which is in Kent, won a number of awards as well as Torbay, Devon, among others.

 

The Blue Flag beaches include; Sutton-on-Sea, Dovercourt Bay, Whitley Bay, Minnis Bay, Blackpool Sands, Sandy Bay, Carbis Bay among many others.

 

Also, over 130 beaches in England were given Seaside Awards for cleanliness.

 

The Operations Director of Keep Britain Tidy, Richard McIlwain, said: “Keep Britain Tidy campaigns to improve the quality of our local environment and we know that communities up and down the country love their beaches and understand what an asset they are for their towns' economies.

 

“Holidaymakers and day trippers want to visit clean, safe beaches and the sight of the Blue Flag or Seaside Award flying gives them the reassurance that they will.”