Sandhaven Scoops Seaside Award
Sandhaven Beach is among the best seaside spots in the country scooping a coveted Seaside Award.
The beach, in South Shields, has secured the Seaside Award from leading environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy.
Seaside Awards act as the quality marks for beaches and mean that those visiting them can be sure they are well maintained, clean and safe, meet the highest environmental standards as well as tough international bathing water quality standards.
Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at South Tyneside Council, said: "We are of course delighted that Sandhaven has the Seaside Award again this year.
"Visitors to a beach flying a Seaside Award can be assured the space is clean, safe and meets the highest environmental standards.
"The success of Sandhaven meeting the requirements demanded by this award is testament to all those who work extremely hard all year round - staff, partners, businesses and community volunteers - to ensure our seafront is looking great and kept to a standard that keeps people coming back time and time again.
"It's important that anyone visiting our coastline continues to support us by disposing of their litter responsibly and helping to keep it clean and tidy for others to enjoy."
Sandhaven is one of 121 beaches in England to receive the Seaside Award this year.
Keep Britain Tidy's Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: "In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world. It's wonderful to see the flag flying proudly over Sandhaven beaches in South Shields, demonstrating its quality to residents and visitors alike.
"The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.
"Visitors to a beach flying a Seaside Award Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards."
Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England's coastline and promoting the country's best beaches. They are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
Bathing waters at both Sandhaven Beach and Marsden Bay meet the 'Good' standard based on water samples taken by the Environment Agency. The rating means that the beaches exceed the minimum standards for water quality.
Littlehaven Beach underwent the same water quality testing for the first time in November 2024 as a newly designated location. Unfortunately, as is common with newly designated sites, the beach was rated 'Poor' for water quality. A 'poor' rating means the water has not met the minimum standards. An action plan to improve Littlehaven is being worked on by partners including the Council, Northumbria Water and Environment Agency over the coming years.
Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, said: "Having these official ratings helps us to better protect the health of those entering the water at these locations as well as giving visitors up to date information and the confidence to make informed decisions about where they choose to bathe."
"Littlehaven Beach itself remains a popular and safe spot for local residents and visitors to enjoy, and while the pier positions make the waters safe for sports and recreation, it can be more vulnerable to pollution.
"Given its unique location within the River Tyne estuary, the water quality rating is not unexpected. However, as a newly designated bathing water, this classification gives us a baseline on which to begin to drive up standards with the water now regularly monitored."
The ratings for the Borough's designated bathing waters support the work of the Council following its ocean recovery declaration, Motion for the Ocean. In endorsing the motion in January 2022, the Council made a commitment to take positive action to help enhance, restore and protect the ocean.