BLUE FLAG DENIALS CONFIRMED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS
SEVERAL beaches across North Wales have been denied a Blue Flag award after safety risk assessments made by the local authorities were deemed “not to comply with the new Blue Flag criteria”.
Earlier this year just one beach in North Wales received the prestigious Blue Flag award after the new requirement was introduced.
Prestatyn beach in Denbighshire was the only beach to receive the iconic award, Keep Wales Tidy announced in June. Following the decision, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy councils said that they were going to “continue to work with Keep Wales Tidy to fully understand this new requirement and identify a suitable way forward”.
The councils confirmed last week that, despite having had a risk assessment carried out, the Blue Flag jury has deemed that it was not sufficient due to the fact that a safety risk assessment “must be carried out by a recognised professional independent assessor or a full member organisation of the International Life Saving Federation”.
Twenty four other locations in Wales received the award this year, as opposed to 45 last year.
In 2021 there were 17 beaches in North Wales that qualified and 18 in 2019. No flags were flown in
2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Blue Flag is a worldrenowned eco-label owned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
For more than three decades, Blue Flag has had a transformational impact on water quality, safety and environmental management, and it has also inspired environmental awareness through educational activities and promotion of social responsibility. A statement issued on behalf of Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy councils said: “We have received final notification from the international Blue Flag jury that a number of beaches across Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy will not be awarded a Blue Flag for the 2022 bathing season.
“We’re confident that our beaches remain amongst the best in the country, and they attract thousands of visitors each year.
“They have achieved the highest environmental standards that are required by Blue Flag, and offer a range of amenities.
“They have also had risk assessments carried out by competent, trained risk assessors at the county councils. However, the international jury has reinforced their decision that a safety risk assessment must be carried out by a recognised professional independent assessor or a full member organisation of the International Life Saving Federation.
“This applies to beaches with an average of 50 or more daily users over four weeks during the high season, where there are no lifeguards provided.
“This means the safety risk assessments made by the county councils are deemed not to comply with the new Blue Flag criteria.
“We will continue to liaise with the Foundation for Environmental Education, who operate the Blue Flag Programme, and with Keep Wales Tidy”