NI beaches 'must be improved'

NI beaches 'must be improved'

The glory of the north coast's beaches

Northern Ireland could lose out on millions of pounds of valuable tourist revenue because of the quality of its beaches.

Tidy Northern Ireland, organisers of the UK's awards scheme for beaches, issued the warning on Thursday as it released a list of top seaside resorts.

Ballycastle and Warrenpoint strands are in the top eight in the UK, but Millisle Lagoon in County Down has dropped out.

In all, a total of eight beaches in the province made the grade, one more than last year.

However, Tidy Northern Ireland warned that plans to toughen up on water quality levels could affect the rating of several beaches.

NI award-winning beaches

Ballycastle, County Antrim

Benone Strand, County Londonderry

Cranfield West, County Down

Portrush East Strand, County Antrim

Portrush West Strand, County Antrim

Portrush Strand, County Londonderry

Tyrella, County Down

Warrenpoint, County Down

National director Caroline Briggs said: "While the rest of the UK has been making steady improvement year on year in winning beach awards, Northern Ireland has stayed static and even those who traditionally win flags are feeling the strain because of a lack of resources."

Ms Briggs said money must be invested in water treatment works and monitoring bathers' safety.

Without this, there would be no beaches to boast about and that could cost revenue and jobs, she said.

Ms Briggs is to meet An Taisce - which manages the Blue Flag beach scheme in the Republic of Ireland - to learn how it has been able to amass 75 such awards.

"With the demise of shipbuilding and agriculture, tourism with a turnover of £265 million a year, has become one of Northern Ireland's most vital industries," she said.

"Even this could be under threat if we don't invest in the future of our coastline,.

"The Republic of Ireland had built up a mighty reputation for its beaches.

"If we want to match that, it will mean hard cash - whether through a water tax or via help from government.

"But invest we must, because if we don't - we will end up paying later."