Felixstowe beach (Felixstowe South and Pier) is flying high after being named as one of country’s best beaches by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, joining an elite of seaside towns scooping Blue Flag and Seaside Awards this year.
With the current travel restrictions and the likelihood of foreign holidays being cancelled, a day trip to a beach is likely to be the highlight of most people’s summer this year.
Mayor of Felixstowe Mark Jepson holds the 2020 Blue Flag and Seaside Award with Cllr Seamus Bennett and Clare Baker from Felixstowe Forward
Mayor of Felixstowe, Councillor Mark Jepson, said: “We are delighted to announce that Felixstowe has been recognised as one of the country’s best beaches. To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches must comply with several criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety, and services. It was a great team effort to achieve these awards and thanks must go to Felixstowe Town Council, Felixstowe Forward, East Suffolk Council as well as the army of volunteer litter-pickers who play a huge part in keeping the beach clean. We urge anyone visiting our fantastic beach to leave the beach as they find it, respect our resort and dispose of litter appropriately.”
The Seaside Award recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality. Felixstowe consistently meets the criteria for ‘excellent’ international bathing water quality standards and is the only beach in Suffolk to meet this exacting standard required for the Blue Flag.
The Blue Flag will be raised and flying across Felixstowe from Wednesday 5th August as seafront services resume following COVID-19 guidelines.
Avid sea-swimmer and Town Councillor, Seamus Bennett, who helped bring the project together said: “On behalf of all our residents and our many visitors to our beaches, I would like to congratulate our hardworking team for the work that they have done in bringing the Blue Flag back to Felixstowe. The water quality has been rated ‘excellent’ for years so Felixstowe deserves this recognition, the result of community spirit at its best.”
Mayor of Felixstowe Mark Jepson and Cllr Seamus Bennett with the 2020 Seaside Award and Blue Flag plaques
To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, its programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
Further information
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity that cares for the environment on your doorstep. We work to eliminate littering, reduce waste and improve public space. We run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, launched the Blue Flag programme in 1987. Keep Britain Tidy administers the scheme in England. To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches must comply with a number of criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety and services.
The Seaside Award is run by Keep Britain Tidy and recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality.
As the only beach in Suffolk to have achieved the required water quality, Felixstowe’s ‘excellent’ rating means it is the only town in Suffolk that is eligible for the Blue Flag.