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31 May 02

Blue Flag for Poole's Golden Beaches

 

POOLE will be proudly flying the Blue Flag along with the Union Flag this Golden Jubilee bank holiday week-end as it once again celebrates its golden beaches.\n

This year, Poole has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for: Poole Sandbanks Beach, Poole Shore Road Beach and Poole Branksome Chine Beach. Sandbanks beach boasts more than three miles of golden sand and was rated amongst the top 5 beaches in the country by the Tidy Britain Group resort survey 2000.

Cllr Graham Wilson, Executive Portfolio Holder for Community Development, said: "This is more good news for Poole beaches and Poole people who can be proud that year after year we retain this prestigious status. We are fortunate to have these beautiful beaches on our doorstep and we must all take care to keep them at their best. I look forward to enjoying them this summer and for years to come."

The Blue Flag Award has very strict criteria for bathing water, beach safety and supervision, good beach management and clear information for the public. It is an exclusive eco-label awarded to more than 2800 beaches and marinas in 23 countries across Europe and South Africa in 2002.

Clive Smith, Head of Leisure Services, Borough of Poole, said: "This award is extremely important to us and we work hard to maintain very high standards for Poole’s beaches every year. We are dedicated to ensuring that these outstanding beaches continue to rank as some of the best in the world and these awards each year prove this."

ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns Seaside Awards & Blue Flag Campaign) awards the Blue Flags as part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign which it runs for FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).

Ray Turner, Beach Services, tel: (01202) 708181