North Tyneside beaches to keep the Blue Flags flying this summer

North Tyneside’s award-winning beaches will continue to fly their Blue Flags with pride after being ranked among the best in the country for another year.

King Edwards Bay, Tynemouth Longsands, and Whitley Bay have achieved Blue Flag status every year since 1994 and have today been confirmed as winners again in an announcement by Keep Britain Tidy.

Seventy-eight sites have met the high standard required for a Blue Flag award this year, while 128 beaches are now proudly displaying a Seaside Award – including the three North Tyneside beaches.

The coveted Blue Flag is an international award bestowed on the cleanest and best-maintained beaches in the country, while the Seaside Award recognises the highest standards of beach management in England.

Councillor Sandra Graham, North Tyneside’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “The awards keep coming for our stunning coastline, but we take nothing for granted, and that’s why our staff and volunteers continue to work hard all year round to maintain the highest standards.

“The Blue Flag is known all over the world and when people visit North Tyneside from other parts of the UK or overseas, they know the significance of it.

“We remain optimistic about the progress being made to regain the Blue Flag at Cullercoats. And we will commit extra resources again to keep our coast and beaches pristine this summer.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “Visitors to 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.

“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

“We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches. The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.”

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.

Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It is only presented to well-managed beaches with water quality defined as ‘excellent’ under the EU Bathing Water Directive and environmental education programmes, while Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.

Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:

  • Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
  • Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems
  • Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the 'sufficient’ standard
  • Environmental management, including litter and waste