WIREDGOV

Environment Minister Jane Davidson presented the awards at Penarth Marina, which has been awarded its first Blue Flag. Of the eight marinas which can fly the flag, five are in Wales.

For the first time Llanfairfechan in Conwy and Coppet Hall in Pembrokeshire have been awarded the Blue Flag honour.

Ms Davidson said:

“I am delighted that again a high number of beaches and marinas across Wales have been awarded Blue Flags, which is a European standard they can be truly proud of.

“It shows yet again the excellent natural quality that Welsh beaches have to offer to all of us who live in Wales and as a magnet for the visitors who holiday in Wales each year.

“We should all be proud of the quality and amenities on offer at our beaches. These 38 Blue Flags in Wales are a tribute to the high quality of the water around our coast and to the many organisations and volunteers who help maintain the all round standards at the beaches themselves.

“I spent time on a beach clean-up earlier this year and know the hard work and dedication put in by these volunteers. This includes the great contribution of Local Authorities and beach managers to both improve the coastal infrastructure and the experience for visitors to the Welsh coastline.”

The number of Blue Flags varies each year depending on natural effects including the weather.

Rain affects water quality and added an extra dimension to the challenge of gaining these awards. But the all round improvement in coastal water quality indicates that we are seeing the benefits of the huge investment over recent years by the water industry in Wales.

For anyone planning a trip to the beach this summer, these awards show the quality that Wales has to offer and enables our beaches to compete with the very best in Europe and beyond.

Related Links

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/tourism/?lang=en

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/?lang=en

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/climate_change/?lang=en