The Blue Flag award is a prestigious, international award scheme for beaches that achieve the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.
For the first time, this year, Summerleaze in Bude has been given the coveted award, while Crooklets and Widemouth Bay have previously been awarded the Blue Flag, and have won the award again. Well done to all involved in maintaining Blue Flag standards on our beaches.
Other winners in our part of the SW are: Carbis Bay, Gyllyngvase, Porthmeor, Polzeath, Porthtowan, Trevone Bay, Westward Ho! in Torridge (Westward Ho! beach has won the award for more than 20 consecutive years) and Croyde Bay in Devon. If you want to know about others, please check the Keep Britain Tidy website here.
Bude Tourist Information says on its website:
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against in order to achieve a Blue Flag Status are:
- Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary.
- Environmental information, including displaying details about local eco systems.
- Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard.
- Environmental management, including litter and waste.
“It’s with huge thanks to the local community groups and council who work hard together to ensure that our beaches are clean, our open spaces are looked after, we have bins and litter collection, we educate visitors and locals about the beach environment and we all play our part in striving for an excellent sustainable tourism destination.”