Five East Devon beaches win national awards

Beer, Exmouth, Seaton, and Sidmouth Town beach have met the high standard required to be awarded the Blue Flag and Seaside Award, with Budleigh Salterton also receiving a Seaside Award.

Exmouth has now achieved Blue Flag status for six years in a row, while this is the fifth year for Sidmouth, the third for Seaton, and the second for Beer.

Councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council's (EDDC) Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment, said: "Our beaches are very much appreciated both by our residents and our visitors. Although they seem naturally beautiful, these locations actually require a lot of hard work by our staff, our partners, businesses, and dedicated volunteers. Retaining our Blue Flags is a credit to them and I would like to thank them for their continuing work."

Pete Blyth, EDDC's Beach Safety Officer, said: “We are very pleased that our beaches have once again met this prestigious national benchmark, showing that they are safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike to enjoy."

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, said: “These awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who have worked tirelessly to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches and we’d like to take this moment to recognise and applaud them.

“Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.

“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

“Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.”