Norfolk-Now.co.uk
December 05, 2000 — Bathing water at Norfolk's beaches is cleaner than ever before, according to a European survey.
Beaches including Great Yarmouth North, South and Pier, Gorleston, Wells, Sheringham, Cromer, Mundesley, Hemsby, Caister Point, and Hunstanton all passed the main tests in the annual survey.
And in the region as a whole, no beach failed to meet the standards — an improvement on last year when two showed worsening water quality.
Gerald Jarvis, Yarmouth Borough Council's environmental policy committee chairman, said the survey findings were a real boost to the area coming on top of the Blue Flags awarded earlier this year.
He said: "It does have an impact on tourism. If people don't know much about the area, they will read any information about the place.
"It will be great in encouraging visitors to come here, but it is also a bonus for regular visitors and residents."
He said the results reflected a lot of improvement work that had been done by Anglian Water.
Geoff Skipper, Norwich Area Tourism Agency marketing director, welcomed the news he hoped would boost the numbers of summer holidaymakers.
"We write in our brochure, "a beach within reach" — and it is important there are beaches just 20 miles from Norwich.
"We sell the city and county as a package, and, in a time of increased competition, it helps to have a certificate of clean bathing water."
To pass the European Commission test, 20 samples are taken from every beach.
Nineteen out of the 20 samples have to meet the standards or a beach will fail the test.
The tests are mainly on sewage levels in the water, but also on levels of oil, detergents and other substances.
Environment minister Michael Meacher said the results were the best so far for UK bathing waters — but warned complacency was not an option.
"In order to achieve the cleanest, best quality bathing water in Europe we must now meet the much tougher Blue Flag standards."
North and South beaches and Victoria Beaches in Lowestoft also all passed the test.
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