ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

• Information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed
• Information about bathing water quality must be displayed
• Information about the Blue Flag Programme must be displayed
• Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request
• A minimum of five environmental education activities must be offered

WATER QUALITY

• Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality
• No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area
• Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment and effluent quality
• Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach unless it constitutes a nuisance

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

• A beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility
• The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (coastal zone planning and environmental legislation)
• The beach must be clean
• Waste disposal bins/receptacles must be available on/by the beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained and emptied
• Facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials must be available on/by the beach
• Adequate and clean toilet facilities with controlled sewage disposal
• On the beach there will be no unauthorised camping or driving and no dumping
• Regulations concerning dogs and other domestic animals on the beach must be strictly enforced
• All buildings and equipment at the beach must be properly maintained
• Sustainable means of transportation must be promoted in the beach area

SAFETY AND SERVICES

• An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach
• First aid equipment must be available on the beach
• There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents
• An emergency plan to cope with pollution safety risks must be in place
• There must be safe access to the beach
• A supply of potable drinking water must be available on the beach
• A minimum of one Blue Flag beach in each authority must have access and toilet facilities provided for disabled persons
• Map of the beach indicating different facilities must be displayed

For more guidelines and information for Blue Flag beaches in England and Northern Ireland, click here.