While Brittas Bay North and South beach along with Greystones South beach maintained their Blue Flag status announced by An Taisce, Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady has expressed his disappointment that the Garden County has lost one of its blue flag Beaches. The beach at Bray South Promenade is one of five beaches across the state to lose its status. An Taisce has ruled that it was down to the water quality that the blue flag status was lost.
Brady said:
“The blue flag symbol is an internationally recognised symbol of high standards of water quality, environmental management, education and safety for beaches. It is a much-coveted award, and the loss of this status must be afforded the seriousness which it deserves.
And while it is important to mention the hard work done by groups and individuals, many in a voluntary capacity to keep our beaches up to a high standard, the value of securing a blue flag status for the beach here in Bray, means that we have to find a way of securing the blue flag status back at the earliest opportunity.
No doubt this will involve a lot of hard work, and the co-operation of Wicklow County Council, but the importance of the award and the benefits that it would bring to the area, both commercially and environmentally, cannot be overstated. It is now important to determine the reasons why the water quality has been adjudged to have deteriorated, and address it as soon as possible”
