Beaches make the grade - but only just

BEACHES in Bexhill achieved just a basic pass in the Marine Conservation Society's annual Good Beach Guide.

Tests over summer 2009 found local water quality made no more than the European minimum standard, which includes the criteria: "waterborne pathogens present in quantities known to cause illness".

The survey also picked up the town's beaches for their lack of lifeguards, and cautioned that combined sewage overflows may be affecting water quality.

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A total of 420 of the 769 beaches tested for this year's guide did not manage a water quality pass.

John Spence, head of environment and quality for Southern Water, which is responsible for the water quality in Bexhill, said large quantities of rain over summer 2009 - one of the wettest on record - had pushed his team harder than normal.

"With so much heavy rain, run-off from roads and farmland or storm overflows entering the sea could have affected standards," he said.

Brian Storkey, chairman of Bexhill Tourism Association (BEXTA), said: "It's not a glowing endorsement of where we are.

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"I do remember when we got awarded something a lot better than that and it did improve the tourism coming into the town, as it does for Eastbourne when it gets highly rated.

"People do look at it. Anything adverse to being excellent is not what you want.

"The only thing we have at the moment is the seafront so that's a bit sad. It's not destructive completely but it's sad we haven't made it better."

The South East is one of only two regions in the UK to have no totally failed beaches in the 2010 guide.

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Bexhill's European MP Catherine Bearder took an interest, commenting: "Bexhill beach is a natural treasure but if we don't look after it future generations will not be able to enjoy it."

"We must all do our bit: residents and tourists alike must work with the council to protect the beach."