BREAKTHROUGH FOR CLEANER BEACHES CAMPAIGN (Julia Goldsworthy)

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

BREAKTHROUGH FOR CLEANER BEACHES CAMPAIGN

November 16, 2009 1:00 PM

Cornwall will become the first place in the country to offer real time information about the cleanliness of its beaches, following a meeting on Friday arranged by local MP Julia Goldsworthy.

Following agreement from all interested parties, including SWW, the Environment Agency and the RNLI, Cornwall Council will head up a pilot scheme that will see the first beaches implementing the new systems from the start of the bathing season next year.

Beaches across Europe will soon be required to provide more information about their water quality history, but Cornwall's pilot will go further. Responses to possible pollution incidents will be better coordinated, with the public kept up to date with events as they happen. At present, information on bathing water quality is only provided on an annual basis.

It means that the reputation of Cornwall's outstanding beaches will be safeguarded for the future, as any problems will be immediately reported, acted upon and made available to the public.

Surfers Against Sewage have long been campaigning for information to be made available in this way. Their concerns were graphically highlighted in a Panorama programme earlier in the year, which prompted Julia to call the meeting.

She praised the work of the campaign group, and said they had helped to safeguard Cornwall's beaches for the future: "Cornwall has fantastic beaches which are vital to our local economy. Thanks to this pilot scheme, people bathing in Cornish waters can do so with absolute confidence, knowing that the waters are safe.

"Surfers Against Sewage have done a great job in campaigning on these issues, and bringing them to public attention. Now, thanks to the agreement drawn up between the agencies last week, there is a positive outcome to all the work of local campaigners, with a pilot scheme that will be the first of its type in the country.

"This is a vital step in safeguarding the reputation of Cornwall's beaches, and shows that we are at the cutting edge of best practice in keeping our beaches clean and safe."