This year environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 190 awards to England’s very best beaches, including 65 international Blue Flags and 125 Seaside Awards (eight more than last year), with 42 beaches achieving both awards. This includes awards to Brighton & Hove City Council for Brighton Central Beach (Blue Flag), Hove Lawns (Blue Flag) and Saltdean (Seaside Award).
Brighton Central, Hove Lawns and Saltdean join the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away spots. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “The success of the 148 beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.
“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”
Alan Robins, chair of BHCC’s Tourism, Development & Culture Committee said: “We’re delighted to have our beaches endorsed as among the UK’s best. It takes an enormous amount of concerted effort by a great number of people to achieve these standards.
“Special thanks must go to our beach cleaning teams, national and community beach cleaning volunteer groups, the dedicated Seafront Office and Beach Lifeguard Team and our partners at Southern Water who are always looking at methods and measures to improve the water quality along our coastline.”
Chris Ingall, Brighton & Hove’s seafront operations manager added: “This is great recognition for everyone’s hard work. As a city we’re promoting the reduction of single use plastics and removal of waste from our beaches. There is still a lot to be done but the tide is turning on this global issue.
“My message to everyone who comes to our lovely beachfront is to please be considerate, use the bins provided, recycle where possible and leave the place tidy for everyone to enjoy!”