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Blue Flag awards

Key Trends

  • The South West had the highest number of Blue Flag awarded beaches in 2010, with 27 out of the national total of 71.
  • The number of Blue Flag awarded beaches in the region in 2009 was 29.

Background

The Blue Flag Campaign recognises beaches throughout Europe which fulfil strict criteria relating to both the water quality and the surrounding beach area. To be considered, a beach must have attained the UK guideline standard of the Bathing Water Directive before being assessed for various other criteria. The beach must also demonstrate that it provides and manages a range of facilities and contributes to public awareness of environmental issues.

South West trends

There are 71 Blue Flag Award beaches in England in 2010, 3 less than in 2007 but 37 more than in 2002. Over the last six years the number of Blue Flag beaches in England has nearly doubled (82 this year compared to 45 to 2002). 

 

Blue Flag awards in the regions 2008

 

 Region

Number of Blue Flags in 2010 

Comparison to 2009 

 South West

27

2 less

 South East

17

1 less

 East of England

11

 1less

 Yorkshire and the Humber

5

1 less

 East Midlands

3

 Equal

 North East

8

3 more

 Total

71

Equal

The South West again has the highest number of Blue Flag awards of any region in England, with 27 or 38% of the national total.  Of these 34 Blue Flags, 6 are in Cornwall, 12 in Devon and 9 in Dorset.

South West Blue Flag Awards 2005 - 2010  
 South West county  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Cornwall 6 9 10 9 8 6
Devon 11 13 16 16 12 12
Dorset 9 10 10 9 9 9
Total 26 32 36 36 29 27

Over that last 10 years the number of Blue Flag beaches in England has tripled (there were 24 in 2000), while Quality Coast Award winning beaches in England have increased by 35% since the awards began in 2007 (73).

A full list of Blue Flag awards in the South West is available from the Blue Flag website, including details of each individual beach.

There are blue flag beaches around the world. 2010 information will be released in June 2010. Find out more about international Blue Flag awards here.