Delight at tidy beach award

Tourism officials are delighted with the award which reflect the area’s cleanliness and suitability for family visits after Keep Britain Tidy inspectors ran the rule over the sands for water quality, management, lack of litter and proximity to holiday facilities such as toilets, bins and gardens.

The award comes after water quality at St Annes beach was rated ‘good’, also for the second year running. in the strict new EU-backed water tests introduced last year.

Geoff Willetts, Senior Coast and Countryside Officer for Fylde Council, said: “Our Coast and Countryside Team along with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, United Utilities and fantastic groups of volunteers have worked hard this year to maintain these high standards of beach management and bathing water quality and receiving this award is the icing on the cake.

“Many thanks to all involved.”

Fylde Council leader Coun Sue Fazackerley added: “To win this award for the second year running is a tremendous achievement and reflects the efforts continuously being made to improve the water quality and the work of the dedicated band of volunteers who collect litter on the beach each week.

“Both residents and visitors benefit by our being recognised with an award of this importance and it should also provide a boost to our local economy.

“We often speak of ‘the good old days’ but, as a local  child playing on the beach and swimming in the sea on a regular basis, the difference between then and now shows a huge improvement and these are definitely ‘the better new days’.

“As leader of the Council and a lifelong St Annes resident, I would like to congratulate all involved in this result, both professionals and volunteers. 

“This is a splendid result.”