Best Beaches 2018
Keep Britain Tidy named 10 beaches in the North West as some of the best beaches in the country as part of their Blue Flag and Seaside Award announcements in May.
Water quality is one of the key factors in the award criteria therefore it’s great news that the Turning Tides partnership and LOVEmyBEACH campaign have helped the region to improve water quality tremendously over the last thirty years.
There are four classifications of bathing water quality; Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor.
For the second year in a row all thirty bathing water locations in the North-West have passed the EU water quality standards with 11 beaches being classified as ‘excellent’ including Blackpool South, Formby & St Bees.
Ten beaches were awarded the Seaside Award – Keep Britain Tidy’s own award for beaches that meet the very highest standards for cleanliness and facilities. These are:
Morecambe North |
Morecambe South |
St Annes Pier |
Ferry Beach |
Marine Beach |
Jubilee Beach, Cleveleys |
Rossall Beach |
Bispham |
Blackpool North |
Blackpool Central |
Putting the North-West on the map, Blackpool South beach is awarded the region’s only Blue Flag award for the third year in a row; the international standard for the best beaches in the world.
The 15th May marks the start of the UK’s bathing water season which runs until the 30th September every year; the period when the Environment Agency monitors the water quality every week.
Signs are displayed at each designated bathing water highlighting the current classification as well as other useful information. The current classifications and results of the samples taken throughout the bathing season are also available on the LOVEmyBEACH website alongside a list of beach facilities, and time tides.