Beach quality

Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good beach, depending on their own personal preferences.

In England there are three beach award schemes, awarded on an annual basis, each applying different criteria of beach management and water quality standards.

• Blue Flag Award is awarded to well developed resort beaches with good facilities and bathing water, achieving European Commission guideline standard. It is promoted in the UK by Keep Britain Tidy
• Marine Conservation Society.

The Bathing Water Directive, one of the first pieces of European environmental legislation, was designed to protect the public from pollution incidents, which could cause illness from recreational water use.

In the UK, the Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring bathing water in England and Wales, and classifies the bathing water accordingly.

Kent has 27 bathing water sample points, which are concentrated on areas where the most marine-based recreation takes place.

The Marine Conservation Society produces an annual good beach guide, which provides information on clean seas and (where available) lifeguard cover, facilities, activities, parking and transport.

For more information, please see the Good Beach Guide.