Beaches in Britain beat 2010's bathing quality standards

More beaches given the top rating this year ? but slightly more failed to meet basic water standardsBritain's beaches have had one of their best years in a quarter of a century of the Good Beach Guide, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has said.Across the UK, 461 beaches were given the top recommended award for having excellent bathing water quality in the guide, the third highest number in the guide's 24-year history, and a significant increase on last year. Some 42 more bathing spots reached the top grade in 2011 than in 2010.But 46 failed to meet even the basic standards of water quality set in European law 35 years ago, the MCS said, a slight increase on last year's figure of 41. And with stricter standards coming into force from 2015 ? but being monitored from next year ? the society raised concerns that almost double the number of beaches could fail in the future.Blackpool's south and central beaches, St Andrews' east sands, the beach at Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, Wales, and Lyme Regis's church beach were among the coastal stretches which failed the current tests for water quality. But Bude's Summerleaze beach and Par, both in Cornwall, managed to turn around their fortunes, going from failing the standards last year to being recommended this year.Other top quality beaches recommended by the Good Beach Guide include Polzeath and Newquay in Cornwall, Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Sheringham in Norfolk, Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Portobello central beach in Edinburgh, and Portrush in Antrim, Northern Ireland.The MCS grades 758 beaches around the UK and the Channel Islands, with the cleanest spots given the recommended status. Beaches which meet the higher quality level under current EU rules are given the guideline grade, while those that reach the mandatory minimum levels required by the law are given a basic pass. Those that do not meet the standards are classed as failing.Rachel Wyatt, MCS coastal pollution officer, said: "From 2015 Europe's beaches will be classified using even stricter water quality standards due to the revision of the Bathing Water Directive."But instead of viewing these new standards with dread, our coastal communities and water companies should welcome them as an opportunity to attract more people to the UK's wonderful and varied seaside resorts."She added: "The next few years are critical as the quality of the UK's bathing waters can play a vital role in the economic recovery of our traditional seaside resorts."Making sure their local beaches are ready to comply with the revised Bathing Water Directive is a huge opportunity for local authorities and chambers of commerce to attract increasing numbers of tourists to the UK's coastline."If the beaches consistently fail to meet the higher standards, the MCS said bathers heading to the sea could be faced with a sign advising them not to get in the water, which could damage local tourism. The MCS wants water companies and local authorities to work together to investigate and tackle water pollution, which can give swimmers stomach upsets or ear, nose and throat infections.The society is particularly concerned about the amount of dilute sewage flowing into coastal waters from the UK's 22,000 combined sewer overflows, which act as emergency outlets for overloaded sewerage systems during periods of heavy rainfall, but which can discharge at other times as well.Only a quarter of beaches are monitored to check how often they are putting untreated sewage into the sea, according to the MCS, which wants them all monitored and the public told if and when sewage is entering coastal waters.The Environment Agency's head of bathing waters, Christine Tuckett said: "The results of the Good Beach Guide are underpinned by a record number of beaches in England and Wales reaching the highest European bathing water standards, as assessed by the Environment Agency, last year."Our bathing waters are at their cleanest for two decades, but more work needs to be done. Working with farmers, water companies and local authorities, we are continuing to drive improvements in water quality around our coasts."WaterBeach holidaysBlackpoolUnited KingdomWalesEuropeCornwallSussexNorfolkScotlandNorthern Irelandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Lapland skiing holidays Travel Finland holidays Finland skiing holidays