Southend beaches lose blue flag status

2:10pm Thursday 23rd May 2013 in News

NONE of Southends beaches will be flying Blue Flags as a mark of water quality this summer.

Changes in the criteria by whichthe Keep BritainTidy organisation judges the nations beaches mean all seven in the borough have lost out.

Leisure bosses are blaming the news on tougher rules and heavy rain, which washed debris and waste into the estuary during the winter.

However, Derek Jarvis, Southend councillor responsible for culture and tourism, has predicted the news wont stop families flocking to the seaside this summer as usual.

He said: The benchmark has changed, so the water quality levels are higher and impurities allowed are lower.

This has been imposed by Europe.Icould get political about it, but its where were at unfortunately and there is no appeal on this.

Its disappointing, but I dont think it will stop people coming to Southend to enjoy the beach, to enjoy sunbathing, going on the pier and all the cultural things we have going on.

Southend Seafront Business Association chairman Simon Patterson agreed.

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Southend beaches lose blue flag status