Beith welcomes water quality success at Northumberland beaches

1.30.00pm GMT Thu 27th Nov 2008

Amble Links is one of several Northumberland beaches which have high quality bathing water.

Several beaches along the Northumberland coast have passed a major quality test which shows that the bathing water is of a good quality, suitable for swimming.

The results were welcomed by Sir Alan Beith and the Berwick upon Tweed Liberal Democrats who want more visitors to visit the area to boost tourism.

Sir Alan Beith MP said

"Tourism is vital to our local economy so I am delighted so many of our beaches have passed the quality test, as well as beaches to the north and south. It may be a bit chilly at the moment but next year we want lots of people to come here and have a great holiday.

"So having a clean beach and bathing water is vital to attract visitors to North Northumberland.

"The slide in the pound means foreign holidays are more expensive. People can come to our beautiful countryside and beaches instead, have a great value holiday and enjoy the very best of what we have to offer."

Northumberland beaches which were tested have all met or exceeded the required standard. The beaches tested were: Spittal, Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell, Low Newton, Warkworth, Amble Links and Druridge Bay. The tests were carried out by environmental watchdog, the Environment Agency, which tested every main beach in the UK.

You can find the full 2008 mandatory compliance results for bathing waters in the UK published by DEFRA, Information Bulletin 360/08, 13 November 2008, online at

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/bathing/pdf/summary-tables2008.pdf