South Ayrshire Council News

It was a team effort gaining the Award.

Once again South Ayrshire Council has been given a Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful for the standard of South Ayr beach. This entitles the Council to display a Seaside Award Flag at that location during 2008.

The Seaside Award programme has two categories, one that recognises the more rural nature of beaches in Scotland and a second that is given to resort style beaches such as South Ayr. Seaside Award winners from either category must have:

• Meet the EU Bathing Water Directive standards for bathing water.
• Manage any facilities well.
• Excellent litter management procedures.
• Information provision.
• Community involvement
• Adequate safety measures.

Speaking about the award Councillor Peter Convery, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and the Environment said: “I am so pleased that Ayr South Beach has yet again been awarded a Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

“Employees of the Council work very hard to maintain the highest possible standards at the beach, keeping it clean, ensure beach safety standards are met and providing facilities. We will continue to work in partnership with local businesses and other partner groups to make the promenade, Low Green and the beach at South Ayr a place where local people and visitors can go and have fun.

“I think that it is reassuring for residents in South Ayrshire and tourists to know that we have gained recognition from Keep Scotland Beautiful. If we all work together and look after the beach by not dropping litter we can all enjoy the beach and hopefully look forward to gaining another award in 2009.”

The Council will be able to fly the Seaside Award Flag between 1 June 2008 and 15 September 2008 which is the official Scottish bathing season, as the award is only valid for this period.

Further details of award winning beaches in Scotland are available by logging on to www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org