Anglesey Beaches Retain Coveted Blue Flags

Anglesey still boasts many of the best beaches in Wales with news today (Thursday, May 19th) that its six Blue Flags have been retained. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The coveted Blue Flag is only awarded to the very best beaches in Wales and recognises high standard of water quality, cleanliness, safety and excellent facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Blue Flag Award is a highly respected international award owned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and runs in 49 countries across the world. In Wales the awards are managed by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The prestigious award is only awarded to beaches that boast the highest quality of water, environmental education and management, safety and services. It acts as a guarantee to everyone that a beach is among the finest not only in the country, but around the world. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Wales Coast Awards ceremony was hosted by Keep Wales Tidy at a national awards ceremony in Swansea earlier today. The winners of Blue Flags, Green Coast Awards and Seaside Awards were revealed there. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Planning and Economic Development portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Dew, is delighted that Anglesey has retained its six Blue Flag beaches and scooped a number of other awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said, “The Isle of Anglesey can rightly boast many of the best beaches in Wales and Britain. They are a real jewel in the Island’s crown and attract thousands of visitors every year.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a County Council, we’ll continue to work with our partners to ensure that the high standard set by our beaches is maintained in the future so that they continue to play an integral part in our Island’s success as a popular tourist destination.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales has seen an increase in the number of international Blue Flag Awards with 44 beaches and three marinas in Wales being awarded a Blue Flag Award – five more than last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A further 26 beaches successfully obtained the Green Coast Award and 92 beaches across Wales gained a Seaside Award for their good water quality and facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​