By Cleethorpes fails to gain Blue Flag status due to bathing water quality
This morning beaches across the country that have received the prestigious Blue Flag status were announced but Cleethorpes beach was not among them.
North East Lincolnshire Council have now clarified that they did not apply for the award due to issues with the beach’s water quality.
The Blue Flag status highlights the world’s best beaches and resorts, taking in aspects such as sustainability, environmental factors, and safety measures.
Cleethorpes previously held the title in 2019 and 2021 but unfortunately did not make this year’s list.
North East Lincolnshire Council confirmed they did not make an application as the water quality is only ‘good’ when it needs to be ‘excellent’ to meet criteria.
Although the rating was received in 2021, recent events have seen a decline in the water quality, including a sewage leak in the North Sea which meant locals could not swim in the sea.
A spokesperson for the Council said: “Bathing water for the main beach in Cleethorpes was rated ‘good’ by the Environment Agency for 2021. It needs to be rated ‘excellent’ when making an application for Blue Flag status.
“Cleethorpes is a hugely popular destination and we take pride in making it one of the best seaside resorts on the East coast. We actively monitor water quality and we work with our partners to make improvements, but many factors that affect it are out of our control, such as flooding and extreme weather.
“As a resort at the mouth of the Humber, the second largest estuary in the UK, Cleethorpes can also be affected by events happening upstream and sometimes in other major rivers such as the Don, Ouse, and Trent, which all flow into the Humber and the North Sea.”
