Water quality at Southend beaches revealed

3:00pm Sunday 20th April 2014 in News By David Trayner

SIX of Southends beaches have won the official seal of approval for their water quality.

The Marine Conservation Societys Good Beach Guide for 2014 grades Shoebury East Beach, Shoebury Common Beach, Thorpe Bay Beach, Three Shells Beach, Westcliff Beach and Chalkwell Beach as recommended.

Jubilee Beach and Bell Wharf, Leigh, are given a lesser, but still satisfactory grading confirming they are up to mandatory standards.

The guides publication will come as a boost after none of the towns beaches achieved Keep Britain Tidy Blue Flag status last May.

The Environment Agency had also warned Chalkwell and Bell Wharf could fall foul of strict new EU rules on water quality, due to come in next year.

Scott Dolling, Southend Councils acting head of economy, regeneration and tourism, said: I am very pleased all of our beaches have passed Marine Conservation Society scrutiny, with six being recommended as having excellent water quality.

Our beaches are absolutely vital to our tourism and the local economy and I hope local people and visitors will vote with their feet this spring and summer and visit our wonderful beaches and coastline.

A total of 538 out of 734 UK beaches tested last summer have recommended status in the latest guide 135 more than the previous year.

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Water quality at Southend beaches revealed