North East beaches to fly Blue Flags with pride this summer
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has today announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2022.
In total, nine beaches across the North East have been presented with an award recognising the quality of the beach, the way it is managed and the facilities it offers to visitors.
The Blue Flag is an international award. This year seven beaches across the region have met the high standard required:
• Tynemouth Longsands - North Tyneside MBC
• King Edwards Bay - North Tyneside MBC
• Whitley Bay - North Tyneside MBC
• Saltburn by the Sea - Redcar and Cleveland Council
• Roker - Sunderland Council
• Seaburn - Sunderland Council
• Sandhaven South Shields - South Tyneside Council
And eight beaches in the region were awarded the Seaside Award, including six Blue Flag winners. They are:
• Tynemouth Longsands - North Tyneside MBC
• King Edwards Bay - North Tyneside MBC
• Whitley Bay - North Tyneside MBC
• Saltburn by the Sea - Redcar and Cleveland Council
• Redcar Lifeboat Road - Redcar and Cleveland Council
• Roker - Sunderland Council
• Seaburn - Sunderland Council
• Seaton Carew Central - Hartlepool Borough Council
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “The success of these beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our blue spaces – from beach managers and volunteers to local residents and businesses. The huge commitment needed to maintain marvellous beaches worthy of these awards cannot be underestimated.
“People who visit a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award 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 and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.
Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It is only presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes, while 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