Keep Scotland Beautiful announced in May that Ganavan (Oban) and Machrihanish (near Campbeltown) were to receive the Seaside Award. This is great news since The GRAB Trust Project Workers have been working hard to make sure the beaches comply with the Award regulations. For more information please visit http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/coastal
The Seaside Award programme has been recognising Scotland's best managed beaches for 19 years, and this year 56 beaches have achieved award status. Argyll & Bute has received Rural Seaside Awards for Machrihanish Beach, which has achieved this for eight years in a row, and Ganavan Sands which has been awarded this status for six consecutive years.
All award schemes use water quality information from samples taken in line with the EU Bathing Water Directive. Information on the water quality samples taken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is made available at http://www.sepa.org.uk The Scottish bathing season is from 1 st June - 15 th September.
Julie Fairbrass,Project Manager at the GRAB Trust,said:“The GRAB Trust in part nership with Argyll & Bute Council are very happy to hear that the two seaside award beaches Ganavan Bay in Oban and Machrihanish Beach in Kintyre received Rural Seaside Awards for another year. It is only with the help of our funders (SNH, EB Scotland and Crown Estate), public partners and the local communities who care about our beautiful coast line that we are able to maintain the Seaside Award status. We are always very thankful to all who have organised and participated in helping keep these areas clean and litter free and who will help continue to do this for 2011.”
A map showing all the award winning beaches with descriptions, directions, facilities and pictures can be found at http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/coastal along with an option for people to rate their favourite award beaches.
Some local school children along with Angus Ward of Argyll & Bute Council, Councillor Rory Colville and Graham ....(2nd name??)
