Brightlingsea’s beaches have retained their prestigious European Blue Flag status – and Tendring’s main holiday beaches have gained more top awards than anywhere else in the East of England.
The beaches at Brightlingsea, Dovercourt Bay and Martello Bay (Clacton) all kept their internationally recognised Blue Flag Awards, with one going to Frinton for the very first time.
On top of that six other beaches have also scooped Seaside Awards for this year – which is exactly the same number as in 2013.
Those accolades have gone to Martello Bay at Clacton; West Beach, Clacton; Frinton Beach; Harwich Beach, Albion Beach, Walton, and the Naze at Walton.
The awards are seen as a major boost for the District’s tourist trade with the announcement coming just before the start of the main season.
Nick Turner, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Coast Protection, said : “Four European Blue Flags is more than we have ever had flying from Tendring’s beaches before – and that is quite a major achievement.”
He added: “People can be assured that the water quality is of the highest possible standard and that they also have the onshore facilities to match.”
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards were announced this week by Keep Britain Tidy, which administers the scheme in England. The Blue Flag programme was initially launched by the Foundation for Educational Education in 1987.
To receive a Blue Flag beaches have to be able to reach certain standards in a number of criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety and services.
Seaside Awards recognise and reward beaches that achieve high standards of management.
The guidelines for water quality changed this year making it tougher for many beaches around the country to retain Blue Flags. However, TDC has worked hard in partnership with the Environment Agency and Anglia Water to achieve this considerable success.
News from Tendring Council
