The quality of beaches in the Burnham-On-Sea area has this week been praised in a new nationwide survey.
Beaches at Burnham, Berrow and Brean have all been recognised in the Marine Conservation Society’s 2014 Good Beach Guide.
Brean and Berrow have both been graded at the highest ‘recommended’ standard in recognition of their excellent water quality and meeting the guideline bathing water standards.
Burnham, meanwhile, has been given a ‘mandatory’ grading to recognise that it is meeting minimum water quality standards.
Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The council is very pleased that two of the three beaches in the district have improved their ratings with the Marine Conservation Society.”
“Both Berrow and Brean have been ‘recommended’, which is their highest accolade. The beach at Burnham Jetty North has retained its same listing as last year.”
More beaches than ever across the South West have this year achieved the highest bathing water standards, with 88.7% receiving the top grade.
However, the EU is due to introduce tougher standards next year and tourism bosses fear that local beaches could be negatively hit, as we recently reported here.
Ian Jefferies, manager at Burnham’s tourist information centre, says local tourism businesses are watching the EU changes with some concern.
