Tendring District Council Beach Patrol members with Councillor Alex Porter holding a Blue Flag at Dovercourt Bay
Six beaches in Tendring have been handed prestigious awards by Keep Britain Tidy – including two of the top Blue Flags.
Beaches at Brightlingsea, Dovercourt Bay, Harwich, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Martello Bay in Clacton have all been given Seaside Awards in recognition of their quality.
In addition the beaches at Dovercourt Bay and Brightlingsea kept their prestigious Blue Flag status.
Walton’s Albion Beach, which previously held a Blue Flag award, was not entered this year as coastal works have led to a temporary drop in water quality from ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ – but Tendring District Council (TDC) plans to re-enter the beach next year once works are completed. All other Tendring seafronts have kept their accreditation from 2021.
Seaside Award beaches have amenities at a high standard where they are provided, and a Blue Flag is an even higher globally recognised accreditation for quality beaches, taking into account factors such as water quality and availability of nearby facilities.
Alex Porter, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said the awards recognised the beauty and quality of seafronts around the district.
“Our Essex Sunshine Coast around Tendring is beautiful and a fabulous place for residents, visitors and the whole tourism industry,” Councillor Porter said.
“This is why we invest so much of our time, effort and indeed money into them, ranging from our Beach Patrol service in the high season, regular upgrades to seafronts, or creating and protecting them with new beaches and cliff stabilisation works.
“Having Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are a great advert for the Essex Sunshine Coast, and as always it must be recognised that it is not easy to keep this status; that is why we decided not to enter Walton this year, but will look to do so – and a new beach in Clacton – next year should the conditions allow.”
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.”