InformationBlue Flag and Seaside Awards - FAQs

1. What do the awards mean?
2. Which beaches in East Devon have these awards?
3. Do the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards mean that it is safe to swim?
4. How is East Devon District Council (EDDC) holding South West Water (SWW) to account about bathing water quality?
5. Why did East Devon apply for these awards, despite concerns about bathing water quality?
6. Who classifies bathing water quality?
7. Why does the bathing season only go from 15 May - 30 September?
8. Why does Budleigh Salterton have a Blue Flag this year?
9. Why has Jacobs Ladder got a Seaside Award but not a Blue Flag this year?
10. Why do other beaches in the district not have awards?
11. Did the judges visit the award-winning beaches?
12. Are Blue Flag beaches dog-friendly?
13. How can I find out more about this issue?

What do the awards mean?

Blue Flags are awarded against a stringent set of 33 criteria set by Blue Flag International, and achieving them is a mark of quality in beach management,  beach safety, environmental education, accessibility, and water quality.

Seaside awards are given by Keep Britain tidy to beaches which meet similar criteria.

Which beaches in East Devon have these awards?

In 2025 Blue Flags and Seaside awards for Exmouth, Budleigh, Sidmouth town, Beer, and Seaton.  Sidmouth Jacobs ladder receives a Seaside Award but not a Blue Flag.

Do the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards mean that it is safe to swim?

Blue Flag Awards require that the water quality is assessed as excellent by the Environment Agency (good or excellent for the Seaside award) as all our beaches were again this year.  

The awards also require us to have procedures in place to deal with various kinds of pollution incident, and to provide information at the beaches about the bathing water samples taken during the season.

The awards don’t mean that it’s always safe to swim.

EDDC lowers the award flag during pollution incidents and pollution risk forecasts declared by the Environment Agency, in these incidences there will be signs warning against bathing, and where there are lifeguards working, red flags will also be displayed.

At EDDC's beaches there are information boards with QR codes which direct beach users to the Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas and Rivers Service, SWW’s Water fit interactive map, and the Environment Agency's Swimfo site, to help them make an informed decision about whether to enter the water.

Electronic signs at each beach display the Environment Agency's daily pollution risk forecast. During the bathing season, EDDC display the water quality results at every beach when they are provided by the Environment Agency, generally around 7 days after samples are taken.

It is important to remember that water quality is not the only danger to swimmers, as in some conditions there may also be rips, offshore currents, or grounding waves. It is best to swim at a lifeguarded beach, in the safe swim zone demarked with red and yellow striped flags.

How is East Devon District Council (EDDC) holding South West Water (SWW) to account about bathing water quality?

EDDC passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in SWW on 22 February 2024. EDDC officers continue to work with the Environment Agency to do everything that they can to hold SWW to account.

Why did East Devon apply for these awards, despite concerns about bathing water quality?

The Blue Flag is not just about water quality. Other standards such as waste and recycling, safety, environmental education, disability access and more are judged. The awards promote tourism, and are valuable to the local economy, supporting local businesses.

Having Blue Flags also puts additional pressure on SWW to improve bathing water quality at the beaches.

Who classifies bathing water quality?

Bathing water classification is determined nationally by the Environment Agency, based on an average of the samples taken in the previous season between 15 May and 30 September. The Blue Flag only applies during this season. More information on how Bathing Waters are classified can be found on the Environment Agency's website.

Most sewage spills took place in the winter in 2023, meaning that the classification was not affected.

Why does the bathing season only go from 15 May - 30 September?

This was a decision taken by the UK Government in 2013.

Why has Budleigh Salterton got a Blue Flag this year?

In previous years Budleigh Salterton had a Seaside Award but not a Blue Flag, this was because we could not meet the Environmental Education criteria for the higher award.  After a lot of work these have now been met.

Why has Jacobs Ladder got a Seaside Award but not a Blue Flag this year?

In previous years Jacobs Ladder has not qualified for an award, this year we were able to meet the criteria for the Seaside Award but not that of the Blue Flag because it doesn’t meet the environmental education criteria. We are working to be able to apply for a Blue Flag here in the future.

Why do other beaches in the district not have awards?

The other two bathing waters in the district are Ladram Bay and Sandy Bay. These beaches are not owned by EDDC, so it is the decision of the owners to apply.

Other beaches in the district such as Branscombe are not owned by EDDC, and not designated as bathing waters, so they would only be eligible for the Seaside Award, again it would be the decision of the owners to apply.

Did the judges visit the award-winning beaches?

The awards are initially given based on the application which includes detailed justification of how the beaches meet each criterion.  Judges from Keep Britain Tidy will visit each of the beaches during the peak summer season. EDDC is not told the dates of inspections until afterwards.

Are Blue Flag beaches dog-friendly?

The Blue Flag only applies to the seasonal dog ban areas of each beach, since it is a criterion that dogs are excluded. There are dogs allowed areas at every beach outside of the award area.

On beaches where dogs are allowed, we recommend that you use the Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas and Rivers Service and SWW’s Water fit interactive map to make an informed decision about whether your dog should enter the water.

How can I find out more about this issue?

Contact us on streetsceneops@eastdevon.gov.uk and our beach safety officer will be very happy to discuss things with you.