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Eastbourne Repeats Blue Flag Success Eastbourne has repeated its 2004 success, winning the prestigious European Blue Flag award, in recognition of the resorts clean and safe bathing beaches. Awarded by ENCAMS (who also run the Keep Britain Tidy campaign), the distinguished blue flag is recognised by over 90% of the public across Europe, as the definitive symbol of a great beach to visit. The Flag is another in a series of awards this year for Eastbourne which include two Seaside Awards and a recommendation in the Good Beach Guide, produced by the Marine Conservation Society. Improvements such as the provision of double deckchairs for romantic couples, beach decking and a new seafront restaurant are also proving popular firsts for Eastbourne. Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Councillor David Elkin said �These prestigious awards acknowledge the hard work throughout the year, which goes into keeping our beaches clean and safe, while also offering an enjoyable day out at the seaside.� �We strive hard to achieve this and have made many cosmetic improvements throughout the winter, including painting, signage, more deckchairs and new beach decking, adding a real continental feel and vibrancy to the seafront, right though to the evening. Coupled with our excellent lifeguard provision and the successful Kidzone scheme, visitors and residents can really enjoy our beautiful seafront to its full potential.� The Blue Flag award is the toughest beach award to win and recognises spotless, litter free beaches, the cleanest possible water and good facilities catering for families as well as disabled. On top of this, safety is paramount with lifeguard provision an essential requirement. Eastbourne Lifeguards work hard at providing the best possible service with fitness tests for all staff and an ongoing training programme, as well as educating the public on safety in the sun and in the sea. The Kidzone scheme of coloured wristbands for children also provides peace of mind for parents with adventurous children. With 119 beaches flying the Blue Flag across the UK, ENCAMS are particularly encouraging people to holiday in the UK this year. Angela Howard, Coastal Director of ENCAMS said �Many of our resorts now offer fantastic facilities and a wide range of attractions and activities for everyone to enjoy. With excellent weather forecast this summer, this is the ideal time for many families to re-discover the seaside and for our coast to compete on the world stage for visitors.� |
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