Littlehampton’s stunning beach earns Blue Flag – again

The Coastguards beach has this morning (Tuesday, May 20) been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for another year.

This is despite more stringent rules being introduced by the European Union.

Paul Todd, of Keep Britain Tidy – which organises the Blue Flag awards scheme – said the accolade helps to promote local pride and can be good news for area’s economy.

He said: “We know people choose to go on holiday where they know they can be guaranteed a quality experience and a quality, safe beach is part of that holiday, so these awards are really important to help people when they’re choosing a holiday.”

He added: “For people to aspire to something that sets a standard for people to work towards but also they help the public to identify where they can find a really good quality beach and choose to spend a day out or spend a holiday there.”

Keep Britain Tidy announced the winners of the 2014 Blue Flag and Seaside Awards today.

In total 168 awards have been won by beaches around the country, with 56 gaining the Blue Flag – including the nearby beach at Bognor Regis – and 112 picking up the Seaside Award.

The awards tests the cleanliness of both the beach and the coastal water.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Littlehampton has been awarded the Blue Flag.

This morning, children from the River Beach Primary School are expected to accompany Arun District Council’s outgoing chairman, councillor Terence Chapman, Littlehampton’s mayor Joyce Bowyer and Arun’s cabinet member for environmental services, councillor Paul Dendle to raise the flag.

A similar flag-raising will take place in Bognor Regis, later today.