Blue Flag status not deserved on all beaches

August 10, 2010

Campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage are saying that three beaches in Cornwall should no longer hold their Blue Flag status.

The environmental charity has claimed that Polzeath, Carbis Bay and Gyllingvasse are not meeting the criteria necessary to receive the award. In addition, it has identified a further 32 beaches in the UK which it says are not meeting the necessary standards for the flag.

Surfers Against Sewage says that it has found information which shows that the public are not being told about sewage discharges at these beaches.

Director of Surfers Against Sewage, Hugo Tagholm, explained that the charity carried out a number of freedom of information requests to local council beach operators.

"It has to be said that we don't want any Blue Flags taken away - they are a very important part of the economy in Cornwall and elsewhere in the country,” he said.

He explained that the point of the award is to promote the very best beach quality and to create confidence in beach users. "By letting them know that if there is a problem on a certain day, on the other days you can bang the drum even louder about the excellent beach and water quality and facilities, and that's the ultimate balance," he pointed out.