Our beaches are beauties
Three given new accreditation
Three South Ayrshire beaches have been recognised for their high quality.
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful y e s t e rday ( Tuesday) announced that three beaches have been recognised for the high standard of facilities they provide to visitors - from keeping sand litter free to providing excellent information and clean facilities.
Ayr, Maidens Beach and Troon beaches have, for the first time ever, received the prestigious Scotland’s Beach Award - a newly- launched accreditation for beach management in Scotland.
Celebrating some of the best managed beaches in the country, Scotland’s Beach Award has been introduced by Keep Scotland Beautiful as a quality benchmark for the provision of facilities to visitors along Scotland’s coastline - from toilet provision to maintaining beautiful promenades and secluded bays. Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work currently undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.
The award aims to encourage the enhancement of all Scottish beaches and to improve the economic and aesthetic value of the coastline for local communities and visitors alike.
Derek Robertson, c h i e f e x e c u t i v e of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “This brand new award focuses on the local environmental quality of Scotland’s beaches - from litter- free sand to the provision of information for visitors.
“Beaches are an important asset to communities and their economies. As a year- round facility, it is vital that our coastlines are maintained to the highest standards and continue to attract visitors from near and far.
“I t i s g re a t l y encouraging that so many beaches have received an award. E n v i r o n m e n t a l quality needs priority attention and we will continue our work to support organisations efforts ensure that Scotland’s coastline offers a great day out.”
Last week we r e p o r t e d t h a t designated bathing waters at Girvan, Heads of Ayr and Prestwick have been classified as poor under strict European w a t e r q u a l i t y standards.
Signage will have to be displayed at the three locations, with the Scottish E n v i r o n m e n t Protection Agency ( SEPA) and South Ayrshire Council advising people against bathing.