After years of waiting resort beach passes water tests

After years of waiting resort beach passes water tests

9 May 2012

NEWCASTLE beach has passed basic water quality tests after failing to meet minimum standards last year.

This year’s Good Beach Guide also names Murlough beach as meeting its guidelines, while Tyrella gets one of its top ‘recommended’ awards.

No beach in Northern Ireland failed the strenuous testing process — however, standards did at Murlough, which lost its recommended status.

The guide is published by the Marine Conservation Society (MRC). Its pollution programme manager, Dr. Robert Keirle, said the latest figures would be an important boost to tourism in Northern Ireland but warned there was no room for complacency.

“This is a milestone for coastal resorts to be proud of and shows the impact of the guide over the last 25 years,” he said.

“However, this summer will see the first samples taken under the revised Bathing Water Directive, which will replace the current standards with far more stringent ones from 2015.

“It’s really important that local authorities, Northern Ireland Water and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency don’t become complacent and take their collective feet off the pedal of continued environmental improvements.”