Torbay Blue Flag opt-out ‘risks huge tourism damage’

But supporters say quitting the scheme was the right choice

Torbay’s ‘over-reaction’ in pulling out of the worldwide Blue Flag beach award scheme could cause lasting damage to its tourism industry, it has been claimed.

The bay is the only resort in the country to have opted out of the prestigious scheme after new criteria were announced by promoters Keep Britain Tidy.

New regulations mean qualifying beaches must segregate areas for different activities, and Torbay Council has decided it is no longer practical for the bay to be part of the Blue Flag scheme.

Its cove-like beaches do not fit the new criteria and its most popular beach – Goodrington – does not qualify. Not being part of the scheme will also save the bay more than a quarter of a million pounds.

In place of the scheme, which operates in more than 50 countries around the globe, Torbay is introducing its own English Riviera Beach Standards awards.

Opponents say the council is effectively ‘marking its own homework’, and did not go through the proper procedures to reach its decision.

Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) told a meeting of the council’s cabinet: “If the changes were so onerous, you would have thought that more councils would have opted out.

“Torbay has made a huge over-reaction to the changes, which will do huge damage to our tourism industry.”

The local authority in Bournemouth, he said, had been concerned about increased costs but had managed to find support from the local business community.

Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) said the decision to pull out of the scheme had been ‘dropped on’ councillors at the 11th hour, and opponents had only helped vote it through so that signage for the new awards could be prepared in time for the summer season.

He said it had not been Torbay’s ‘finest hour’.

But Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) insisted that leaving the Blue Flag awards had been the right thing to do.

He pointed out that 13 out of the 15 beaches in Torbay had ‘excellent’ water quality ratings which could be publicised, whereas only six beaches could say they met the Blue Flag standards.

“This is good news,” he told the meeting. “It is allowing this council to promote those 13 beaches. Have we got to a good position? I would say that we have.”