CEFN SIDAN IS LONGEST FLYING BLUE FLAG BEACH

CEFN Sidan Beach, Pembrey, has won the coveted Blue Flag 26 times – a record for any UK beach

The Pembrey beach was among 65 Welsh beaches to be named among the best in the UK and the world.

This year 34 beaches across Wales have been awarded the Blue Flag and 31 beaches won the Green Coast Award after being judged in the Keep Wales Tidy’s Coastal Awards.

Carmarthenshire has only one Blue Flag contender. Pendine lost the Blue Flag when the Pendine Community Council took over the running the beach from Carmarthenshire council because they reintroduced parking on the beach. That is strictly against European legislation on safety and pollution grounds.

With water quality standards higher than ever, bosses say being awarded a Blue Flag is a great achievement, recognising the best beaches in Wales for their environmentally sustainable management, safety measures, cleanliness, their top notch facilities and high standard of water quality.

Other beaches and attractions recommended for their water quality include Ferryside, Llanstephan and Pendine.

County executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: Carmarthenshire is blessed with seemingly endless golden beaches with Cefn Sidan and Pendine and everything in between.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the RNLI at Cefn Sidan to ensure our record breaking beach for cleanliness is safe for locals and visitors.”

The Pembrey beach has been denied the flag twice. One was for a minor water fail test on one occasion of eight testing sessions in 2011 and the other was when the Sea Empress oil spill closed Carmarthen Bay in 1996.

The Blue Flag Award is owned by the independent organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and runs in 48 countries across the world.