CROOKLETS beach in Bude has lost Blue Flag status for 2009 after failing to achieve the required water quality standard, writes James Dart.

The blue flag, which is an international award scheme guaranteeing tour­ists visiting a beach that it is one of the best in the world, has been taken away from the North Cornish beach.

The loss of the award, which focuses on the quality of the water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management at a resort, is a real hammer blow to the beach in Bude.

The criteria for the blue flag includes excellent bathing water quality, a beach management committee established, clean beach, bins available, regulations on dogs, lifeguarded beach and toilet facilities available.

The beaches that apply for the renowned award have water samples taken weekly and are allowed up to four failures for various different types of bacteria.

ENCAMS, the environmental charity which runs the 'Keep Britain Tidy' campaign is responsible for administering the blue flag award, in England.

Dickie Felton, media manager for Keep Britain Tidy and worker for ENCAM explains why Crooklets lost its blue flag status: "Five water samples from Crooklets failed faecal coli form (bacteria) levels, which is why at the end of the season they only achieved mandatory classification."

Crooklets' fifth water quality failure was on September 3, 2008, which is right at the end of the bathing season. Mr Felton added: "A number of other beaches lost their blue flag status for the same reason, largely due to the wet weather experienced last summer."

North Cornwall District Council (NCDC) are disappointed that Crooklets beach has lost blue flag status. James Ortiz, NCDC beach management development officer, said: "Well obviously we are disappointed, but it's not within our control unfortunately."

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigns manager Andy Cummins said: "It's a shame Crooklets failed to meet the blue flag standards."

The SAS campaigns manager believes that even beaches with the prestigious blue flag award can still be harmful to visitors. Mr Cummins added: "A blue flag means that when the EA tests the water quality over the bathing season, it passed 18 of the 20 tests. There is still a 15 per cent chance of contracting gastroenteritis at a blue flagged beach."

The loss of the blue flag may have an effect on the local businesses surrounding the beach. Lloyd Cowling, who works at Crooklets Beach Café, said: "It (losing blue flag) is not going to give us a boost. The loss of the blue flag may well affect us in the short term, but I think we will be fine in the long term."

With the number of beaches and marinas gaining Blue Flag status increasing every year, with more than 2,500 now displaying the quality indicator, this will heap more misery on the beach in North Cornwall.

Chris Woolf, a local dog walker, said: "Obviously if they are looking at any guides then they are going to look for beaches that are the cleanest, so yeah it will definitely affect tourism and people coming here from different places."

NCDC are unable to do anything to try to improve the beaches water quality, and Mr Ortiz added: "Bar stopping the strip (river) going into the sea. There's very little we can do unfortunately so it's down to the water companies."

NCDC are very confident of getting back the blue flag award, as Mr Ortiz continued: "If we reapply for it (blue flag) and it's a good summer weather wise, I would be confident that we'll get it back."