Cornwall beaches win clean water Blue Flag awards

The Blue Flag awards recognise the "best beaches" in England

Cornwall has had 15 beaches awarded Blue Flag and Seaside Award status ahead of the summer season, according to the council.

Cornwall Council said the Seaside Awards were presented to the "best beaches" in England which celebrates the quality and diversity of local coastlines.

Blue Flag awards were only presented to beaches with water that has achieved the "highest classification, as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive, and that had an environmental education programme".

Keep Britain Tidy said visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag could be assured the beach was clean and safe.

'Dedication'

Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for climate change and environment, explained the council was grateful to its tenants, volunteers and beach clean groups for their "hard work and dedication".

He said: “Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and I’m delighted that we have received these much-deserved accolades."

He also thanked the RNLI for keeping the beaches across Cornwall safe.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, from Keep Britain Tidy's Chief Executive, said the Blue Flag beaches met the highest environmental standards.

'Recognise and applaud'

“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," she 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.

"We’d like to take this moment to recognise and applaud them."

The beaches, owned by Cornwall Council, awarded both Blue Flag and Seaside Award status, for 2024 include:

• Crooklets, Bude

• Gyllyngvase, Falmouth

• Polzeath

• Porthmeor, St Ives

• Porthtowan

• Porthmissen/Trevone, Padstow

• Widemouth Bay

Porthmeor in St Ives was awarded both Blue Flag and Seaside Award status for 2024

A further seven beaches owned by Cornwall Council have received Seaside Award status for 2024 include:

• Crackington Haven, Bude

• Great Western, Newquay

• Porth

• Porthminster, St Ives

• Portreath

• Sennen Cove

• Summerleaze, Bude

Privately-owned Carbis Bay in St Ives also won an award taking the county's total to 15.