“A visit last year from the international governing body of Blue Flag found our beaches to be exemplary and we also now have an established Blue Flag marina at Ballyronan, which is raising environmental standards by promoting the individual Blue Flag for boat owners.”
[caption id="attachment_24614" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Tyrella wins Blue Flag status: Pictured are Down District Council Vice Chairman Councillor Liam Johnston, Simon Boyle, Council Countryside Officer, NI Environment Officer Alex Attwood, Leslie Murray, Tidy NI Chairman, Martyn Todd, NITB Board Member, and Patricia Magee, Tidy NI National Coastal officer."]
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Presenting the awards Environment Minister Alex Attwood said, “Today’s announcement of the Blue Flag and Seaside Award winners is encouraging news for Northern Ireland’s beach users and seaside towns.
“Good water quality and the safety of beaches are key to our economy and tourism and we must strive to achieve high quality standards for the enjoyment of Northern Ireland’s entire world famous coastline.
“However, not all of our beaches reach the required standard for water quality and this needs to be addressed.
“I recently announced that I would be holding a Good Beach Summit within the coming weeks to ensure that all the issues relating to water quality problems can be integrated with all those involved in beach management and beach use.xa0xa0 The Summit will involve people both inside and outside government.”
The beach awards come with perfect timing as more and more of us are staying at home heading down to our own coast for more affordable holidays, free of the uncertainty caused by loitering volcanic ash clouds; and why wouldn’t we, with an array of top notch beaches to choose from.
Added to this good news is that 10 beaches have also received the Seaside Award, an increase of two from 2010, including three beaches along the East Antrim Coast and two on the Ards Peninsula, for exemplary environmental management and good water quality.
The awards event was also used to launch a visitor guide to the 2011 award winning beaches.
Cranfield Beach did not however received a Blue Flag this year as the water quality in the area was deemed to be too low to merit that status, but the beach did pick up a Seaside Beach award. This was the first time in 12 years that the beach had failed to win a Blue Flag.
Northern Ireland Blue Flag Beaches 2011
| Name of Beach | County | Beach Manager |
| Magilligan, Benone | Londonderry | Limavady Borough Council |
| Downhill | Londonderry | Coleraine Borough Council |
| Portstewart Strand | Londonderry | The National Trust |
| Portrush West | Antrim | Coleraine Borough Council |
| Portrush East | Antrim | Coleraine Borough Council |
| Whiterocks | Antrim | Coleraine Borough Council |
| Tyrella beach | Down | Down District Council |
| Ballyronan Marina | Londonderry | Cookstown District Council |
Northern Ireland Seaside Award Beaches 2011| Name of Beach | County | Beach Manager |
| Castlerock (R) | Londonderry | Coleraine Borough Council |
| Portstewart Strand (R) | Londonderry | The National Trust |
| Carnlough (r) | Antrim | Larne Borough Council |
| Ballygally (r) | Antrim | Larne Borough Council |
| Brown’s Bay (r) | Antrim | Larne Borough Council |
| Crawfordsburn (r) | Down | Northern Ireland Environment Agency |
| Millisle (r) | Down | Ards Borough Council |
| Cranfield West (R) | Down | Newry & Mourne District Council |
| Murlough (r) | Down | Down District Council |
| Tyrella (R) | Down | Down District Council |
R= Resortxa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 r= rural
The Awards event took place at Benone Tourist Complex on Thursday 2
nd June 2011.
Blue Flag is an award scheme for beaches run internationally by FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).xa0 Each of the 49 nations within FEE has an organisation which facilitates the awards in their country.xa0 For Northern Ireland it is TIDY Northern Ireland.xa0 Blue Flag Awards are supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.xa0 The international Blue Flag Award is based on compliance with 32 criteria; covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety and services. To attain this award the water quality must be excellent according to EU Bathing Water standards.xa0 Internationally 41 countries operate Blue Flag and from 1 June there will be a total 3,650 Blue Flag sites worldwide.
The Seaside Award flag is awarded to beaches which meet mandatory water quality standards according to the EC Bathing Water Directive and are also clean, well managed and safe. The Seaside Award is divided into two award categories which are Resort and Rural.xa0 Resort Seaside Award beaches xa0meet 29 criteria and provide lots of facilities e.g. toilets, access for disabled people, car parks, restricted access for dogs and are usually located near towns. xa0Rural Seaside Award beaches must meet fifteen criteria and are not as developed.
The charity TIDY Northern Ireland is the province’s leading authority on litter issues, and provides a unique service to communities, businesses, councils and schools throughout Northern Ireland.
TIDY Northern Ireland runs the BIG Spring Clean, Northern Ireland Litter Survey, Borough Cleanliness Survey,xa0Eco-Schools and the Blue Flag, Green Coast Award and Seaside Awards for beaches in Northern Ireland, as well as the Coast Care volunteer programme.]]>
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