Three North Tyneside beaches awarded Blue Flag status
Three North Tyneside beaches are celebrating keeping hold of their coveted Blue Flag status
Last updated 15th May 2024
Three North Tyneside beaches are celebrating keeping hold of their coveted Blue Flag status.
Tynemouth's King Edwards bay and Longsands beaches, as well as Whitley Bay are being recognised for their clean shores.
Blue Flags and Seaside Awards are only awarded to coastal destinations that boast the highest standards of cleanliness, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.
The borough won its first Blue Flag in 1994, with Tynemouth Longsands leading the way, and North Tyneside has maintained the required high standards ever since to be ranked among the UK’s premier coastal destinations.
This year 61 sites were awarded both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award, while 13 sites received the Blue Flag only and 76 beaches received the Seaside Award only.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, North Tyneside's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “When visitors come to North Tyneside, whether from within the UK or overseas, they immediately recognise the significance of the Blue Flag and the Seaside Award. It lets them know that our beaches are safe, clean and well-maintained.
“The awards are a source of immense pride for us, and I would like to thank our staff and volunteers for their continued work in helping to retain the awards all these years.
“It’s an incredible achievement and has helped to establish North Tyneside as one of the premier beach destinations in the country."
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “These awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who have worked tirelessly to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches and we’d like to take this moment to recognise and applaud them.
“Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.
“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
“Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.”
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against 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.