Torbay’s beaches are among the best in the world – that’s official!
Written by Jay Richards on 24/09/2020
Torbay is celebrating for receiving prestigious awards for 10 of its beaches. Keep Britain Tidy has awarded Anstey’s Cove, Goodrington Beach, Maidencombe Beach, Paignton Beach, Preston Sands and Torre Abbey Sands the national Seaside Award for bathing and resort. Meanwhile Breakwater Beach, Broadsands and Oddicombe Beach a combined Seaside (resort) and globally recognised Blue Flag Award, which are administered by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, a non government organisation.
Oddicombe Beach has now held a Blue Flag award for 33 years since the inception of the awards in 1987. Seaside Awards recognise and reward beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality. 
Blue Flag Awards recognise a number of criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety and services. Cllr Mike Morey, Cabinet member for infrastructure and culture for Torbay Council said: “Torbay is renowned as the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark and its beaches are some of the best in the world, so we are of course delighted to win these latest awards”.
He went on to say: “in these uncertain times, it is good to have some certainty and anyone visiting Torbay can be sure they are visiting one of the country’s and the worlds best beaches, and with current travel restrictions people who hadn’t previously thought of visiting Torbay should take the change to come and see what we have to offer here.”
Carolyn Custerson, Chief executive of the English Riviera BID, said: “visitors from around the world really love our natural and varied beaches and the many different activities associated with them.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Deputy Chief Executive Richards McLlwain said: “when you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag, or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”
