A PRESTIGIOUS Blue Flag has been flying high above the sky in Teignmouth after the town’s beach was deemed to be one of the best in the UK.
Judges at Keep Britain Tidy, an environmental charity, awarded the Blue Flag award in recognition of the beach’s high quality, excellent cleanliness, safe access and good signage.
Dignitaries including mayor Cllr Robert Phipps and district councillors Alison Eden, Andrew MacGregor and Sylvia Russell gathered at the seafront this week as the flag was handed over.
Cllr Eden revealed the important Blue Flag accolade comes three years after she successfully launched a motion at the town council to meet EU regulations for beach safety despite Brexit.
She said this week: ‘I was surprised and overjoyed that it was passed. Since the autumn of 2016 Cllr David Cox and I have led beach cleans on the last Sunday of every month as part of raising awareness about the impact on our environment of litter.
‘Scouts, local schools and other community groups are all rising to the huge challenge that is removing rubbish from our beaches, whether bottles, cans or tiny bits of plastic and thousands of cigarette butts.’
She added: ‘We must stop poisoning the world we live in and the air we breathe. Three years on from that significant moment when my motion was passed, it is wonderful to be able to celebrate our Blue Flag. But the work carries on!’
The next Teignmouth beach clean is set to take place on June 30 at 11.30am meeting at the lighthouse.
Cllr Andrew MacGregor, who looks after the district’s resorts, said: ‘The award of the Blue Flag is a wonderful result for the town and wider Teignbridge area. Visitors to the town, as well as residents, can be assured that the beach meets not only high environmental standards, but has high safety standards.
‘Teignmouth is a beautiful place to visit and this makes it more attractive for everyone. This achievement is the result of lots of hard work from Love Your Beach Group, the harbour commission, Environment Agency, South West Water and town traders.’