News Release

1st August 2005

GRAB a Beach and help Machrihanish Bay

The GRAB Trust manage the Seaside Award Beach at the Machrihanish village end of Machrihanish Bay and have been asked by Clean Coast Scotland to submit an application if the bathing water status of the Bay, as designated under the Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC, is to be retained. The application must provide documented evidence that the beach can meet the identified bathing water criteria of at least 150 users per day at peak times as set by the Bathing Water review panel.

As a bathing water, the water quality is regularly sampled by SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and if the status is lost, sampling may cease. The Seaside Award is run annually by Keep Scotland Beautiful and recognises well maintained resort and rural beaches that pass the EC Mandatory water quality standard. Without water quality data, the future of Argyll and Bute’s only Seaside Award beach is uncertain. Whether you use the beach at Westport or Machrihanish or run a business which benefits from the prestige of having an award winning beach nearby, if the status is lost, it could affect you.

Do you think the status should be retained? Have your say and contact the GRAB Trusts Beaches and Marine Litter Officer. Even if you think not, gathering information on beach usage will still be useful.

If you would like to help, you could carry out a beach count. Please see the information boards at the entrance to the beach (located at either end) for more details.

For more information about the de-designation or Seaside Award Beach, please contact, Karen Judd, Beaches and Marine Litter Officer at the GRAB Trust on 01631 569188 or email . Thanks...