Five of Southend-on-Sea’s beaches will be proudly flying prestigious Blue Flags once again following the announcement made by Keep Britain Tidy. The Blue Flag awards, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is an international award for well-managed beaches with excellent water quality.
East Beach, Shoebury Common Beach, Thorpe Bay Beach, Westcliff Beach and Three Shells Beach have all retained their Blue Flag this summer, highlighting the quality of the beaches in the country’s newest City.
In addition, all Southend beaches have once again been presented with a Seaside Award by Keep Britain Tidy. The Seaside Award recognises beaches that are well-managed and maintained. This includes Bell Wharf Beach, where bathing had previously been discouraged.
The news comes after the recent launch of the new, eco-friendly electric pier trains, with the council confident the summer will be a record-breaking one for the pier and for local businesses, as the country continues to recover from the pandemic.
Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment, culture, tourism and planning, said “Receiving these awards for our beaches means that our residents and visitors can be sure that they are clean and safe and meet the highest environmental standards.
“Southend-on-Sea welcomes over 7 million visitors per year, and with Blue Flag and Seaside Awards flying above our beaches, residents and visitors will know that they are the best in the country. The flags attract visitors, and with us now being a City, this combination will prove a huge boost for local businesses through the popular summer months.
“We want everyone to enjoy our beaches and help keep them award winning. We are all aware of the damage rubbish causes to marine life and the quality of the water, so we can all personally make a difference by disposing of rubbish responsibly when visiting the seaside or taking it home if bins are full.”
