EU report recognises our clean beaches

Local Conservative MEP for Skegness has welcomed the marked improvement in the quality of bathing waters across the UK, and her constituency, in a report published in Brussels.

The European Environment Agency’s bathing water report for 2009 shows that the proportion of UK beaches reaching mandatory standards rose from 95 percent to 97 percent compared to 2008 whilst the number meeting the much stricter guideline standards rose from 69 percent to 80 percent.

Emma McClarkin MEP comments:

“This is great news for Skegness with the summer holidays approaching.

“Given that we’re all counting our pennies what could be better than heading to a local beach knowing that it’s beautiful, clean and safe?

“In the past the UK has been heavily criticised for the quality of its bathing water but now we have arrived at the top of the league with so many beaches meeting the much stricter targets. Of course, this has meant considerable cost on water bills for so many people and they need to see a return in the local economy by capitalising on the tourism benefits.”