UK bathing waters are among the cleanest ever in The Good Beach Guide
Last updated 6/2/2011 3:28:29 PM
UK bathing waters are among the cleanest ever in The Good Beach Guide
In the latest edition of The Good Beach Guide, 461 UK beaches are recommended as having excellent bathing water quality - the third highest number in the Guide's 24 year history.
There are 42 more recommended beaches in the The Marine Conservation Society's guide, than there were in 2010.
The Society's Coastal Pollution Officer, Rachel Wyatt explained that campaigns for cleaner seas, such as the Good Beach Guide, have paid off, but there's more to be done.
"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," she said. "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.
"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".
Monitoring for the new standards begins next year, and if a beach consistently fails to meet these legal limits between then and 2015, bathers could be faced with a sign advising them not to enter the water when they head to the beach.
The society is urging the UK's environmental regulators to work much more closely with water companies and local authorities to investigate sources of pollution affecting bathing water quality and, where necessary, ensure improvements are made.