Wirral beaches among cleanest in the UK ... but one fails clean water tests

May 27 2011 By Laura Jones

Wirral beaches among cleanest in the UK

THREE Wirral beaches have been declared amongst the cleanest in the UK.

New Brighton, Moreton and Meols beaches, along with Formby beach, flew the flag for Merseyside in the latest annual survey by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC)

The four beaches were in the top five cleanest in the North West – the other receiving the top rating being Silecroft in Cumbria.

But one Wirral beach, Thurstaston, failed the annual clean water tests, according to the Good Beach Guide.

Red Rocks, in Hoylake was awarded a higher standard than the previous year. West Kirby beach slipped a rank, but was still awarded a basic pass by MSC.

Responding to the survey results for Thurstaston beach, which failed for a second year, Cllr Brian Kenny said: "The MCS acknowledges that the North West was one of the wettest areas in the UK last summer.

"Thurstaston Beach is subject to heavy rain and surface water run-off from surrounding farmland which affects the quality of bathing waters."

He added: "It is really encouraging to see – like last year – that Wirral still boasts three out of five ‘recommended’ North West beaches in this year’s Good Beach Guide.

"This recommendation is only given to beaches that meet the highest European standard for water quality.

"We know that our beaches are very popular with residents and visitors alike and, although the council is not directly responsible for managing water quality, where we can we will continue to work with other agencies to improve the water quality at all our beaches, especially as new, stricter bathing water standards are being implemented from 2015 onwards."