Blue Flag beach blues
'To attain Blue Flag status one must ensure everything is 100 percent right at the beach'
WITH ongoing repairs and construction planned for the foreseeable future, there was no point applying for Blue Flag status at Alkantstrand this season.
That’s the word from city director: parks, sport and recreation, Ernst van Biljon, after the list of Blue Flag beaches for the 2017/17 season was announced last week.
‘To attain Blue Flag status one must ensure everything is 100 percent right at the beach.
‘This extends from the physical amenities to signage, pollution and so on,’ said Van Biljon.
‘Given the storm damage we have had in the past as well as recently, we still have a lot to do before it is worth spending more than R22 000 just to apply.
‘For example, the debris left all over the beach and in the water over the past week would have disqualified us.
‘However, this does not imply overall that bathing here is unsafe or unhealthy.
‘Factors change from day to day. We assess conditions and respond appropriately.’
Annual Blue Flag status applications are submitted by May each year and adjudicated in June.
However, even after being conferred, the flags may be lowered at any stage for non-compliance to the stringent requirements.
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