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Calshot Beach |
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The guide by the Marine Conservation Society has listed Calshot and Lepe beaches as excellent again this year.
This is the ninth year that Calshot beach has been rated excellent and the sixth year that Lepe beach has also been rated excellent
South East England has 61% of it’s beaches classed as “excellent”, which this year, is a drop of 10% on last year's figures according to the Marine Conservation Society.
The drop in "Excellent" rated beaches across the UK has been blamed on last year's wettest summer on record which led to more pollution reaching the sea.
Last year the Met Office issued over 100 flash flood warnings in August alone, and as a consequence, storms can produce poor water quality.
Thomas Bell, Coastal Pollution Officer said, "The Marine Conservation Society is calling on the government and Scottish Executive to provide better public information on all beaches.
The society wants them to advise swimmers that heavy rain can temporarily increase levels of bacterial pollution in the sea, with a consequent risk to bathers' health."
The Environment Agency also take water samples from 493 coastal areas and 9 inland bathing water areas in England and Wales.
They start collecting these two weeks before the bathing season starts (15th May) and regularly from then until the end of September.
They analyse the samples and use the data to classify bathing waters as excellent, good or poor.
The Environment Agency do this as part of its responsibility under the European Union Bathing Waters Directive.
They aim to make sure public health is protected and target areas that need improvement.
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