Yn anffodus nid yw’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg. Os ydych yn dymuno trafod y mater yn Gymraeg, ffoniwch Wynne Williams ar 01286 674081
SEASIDE AWARD RURAL BEACH CRITERIA
A 'rural beach' is one that has limited facilities and is neither actively managed nor developed as a resort nor is part of any significant development. The aim of the award is to acknowledge those beaches which are visited and enjoyed for their intrinsic qualities where local interest and management maintains a clean environment whilst at the same time promoting considerate use by visitors. They would generally be more remote than resort beaches. Where the award refers to a section of a long beach, with no natural divisions, the beach would be expected to be approximately 500 metres long and would include one water quality sampling point. The water must be monitored by the Environment Agency Wales, or an authority approved by Keep Wales Tidy. It must be monitored according to the European Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC although it is not necessarily for it to be an officially ‘designated bathing water'.
The SEASIDE AWARD will be given to beaches with bathing water of the mandatory standard (Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC) and fulfil 15 land-based criteria.
WATER QUALITY
1. To be eligible for entry a beach must have attained at least the mandatory standard of the Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC. (I)The results of the current season’s water quality monitoring and the standards of, at least, the previous three years (where available) must be posted.
Mandatory bathing water must meet the mandatory standards for the faecal and total coliform parameters of the Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC. The bathing water at a rural beach does not necessarily have to be identified as a site under the Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC but all monitoring must be carried out strictly within the Directive methods of analysis of inspection.
2. Waste water discharge points and riverine inputs within one mile of the beach/water must be highlighted to KWT and the public. (I)The presence of a discharge point does not necessarily eliminate the beach from consideration, but they should be marked on a map. Members of the public should be notified by marking on a map so that they can make an informed decision on whether to enter the water or not.
BEACH AND INTERTIDAL AREA
3. There should be no gross pollution by sewage related debris or other waste including oil, glass and litter and no discharge of industrial or urban waste or decaying vegetation. (I)
The existence of seaweed is a vital part of the beach ecology on some rural beaches. The raking of sandy areas closest to fore dunes and the removal of seaweed should be treated sensitively as the removal of pioneer species, such as sea rocket and sea stock which grow in front of the dunes, prevents them establishing roots and stabilising the dune structures. It is recommended that the cleaning regime for each beach be examined. It may be more effective & economical to hand pick litter at some sites.
MANAGEMENT
4. The beach must be actively managed under a scheme of guardianship by a local authority, group, school, community council or individual.
A named contact or organisation should be appointed to act as a 'guardian'. This could be a local school, community council or individual who has undertaken to keep an eye on the beach, alert authorities to problems and even do some litter picking and maintenance of notice.
5. The beach must comply with all relevant national and local legislation.
6. Access must be safe and well maintained
Road access and parking for vehicles must be adequate for the expected use and location. Although not necessarily metalled, the road surface must be well maintained. Access from the car park to the beach must be safe. Advice about steep or restricted access must be well displayed and included in all promotional literature.
7. Unauthorised driving and dumping must be prohibited
8. Any buildings and equipment must be adequately maintained and there must be safe confinement of all construction work which must not detract from the enjoyment of the beach user.
Any construction work or hazardous derelict structures should be enclosed to prevent ready access by the public, particularly small children. It is suggested that information about the work / reason for cordoning off the area should be provided to the public.
CLEANSING
9. Provision of properly secured litter bins in adequate numbers or signage encouraging users to take their litter home where appropriate. Litter and animal waste should not be allowed to accumulate either on the beach or surrounding area.
Whilst dogs are allowed on rural beaches owners should be encouraged to keep them under proper control and to clean up after them. Accumulations of litter will not be acceptable although where large sea borne waste is prevalent local authorities or beach managers will be given time for it to be removed. Where litter bins are not provided the local authority / beach manager must monitor the situation and when necessary develop a plan to educated users not to leave litter. It litter becomes a problem and is picked up as an issue by KWT assessors, bins may have to be reinstated.
SAFETY
10. The beach should be considered locally as being relatively safe for swimmers and visitors.
A risk assessment should be conducted by appropriately qualified personnel and operating procedures should be written to address any identified risks. Contact RLSS, RNLI or KWT for guidance. (www.rnli.co.uk / www.rospa.org.uk / www.rlss.org.uk )
11. A risk assessment should be carried out and appropriate control measures put in place - i.e. appropriate lifesaving equipment and/or warning signs.
A risk assessment is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which sets out the responsibilities employers have towards themselves, employees and members of the public. The Act states that employers must ensure as far as is reasonably practicable that employees and members of the public are not put at risk. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999, also set out in detail what employers must do to manage health and safety. The Regulations require an employer to make a 'suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking'. So the duty to carry out risk assessments extends to visitors as well as to employees. Carrying out a risk assessment may help with identifying the type and location of appropriate public rescue equipment for your site. A guide is due to be published in early 2007 giving guidelines on appropriate equipment.
Appropriately qualified personnel should conduct any risk assessment and normal operating procedures should be written to address any identified risks.
12. Beach users should be warned of the potential hazards of swimming and advised of appropriate behaviour close to water.
The most effective method of promoting water safety is through community education. It is suggested that a Water Safety Code be displayed on the information board. This should include four main points: i] spot the dangers, ii] take advice, iii] don't go it alone, iv] learn how to help. Information on how to provide water safety information is available from RoSPA and the RLSS.
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
13. An Information Point must be present. It must have:
• Telephone number for the nearest police
• Telephone number for the coastguard
• Information about local hazards where applicable
• Contact number & address for the local authority / beach guardian
• Contact details for Keep Wales Tidy
• Seaside Award Criteria
• Seaside Award Certificate (current)
• Bathing Water Quality Poster with updated information including the results
of, at least, the previous three years’ monitoring
14. A map must be present. It must show:
• The appropriate area of the beach (especially if award section is part of
larger beach)
• Water quality sampling point
• Car / bike parks
• Disabled parking (where applicable)
• Nearest public telephone
• Information points
• Lifesaving equipment
• Larger litter bins & recycling facilities (where applicable)
• Public facilities - toilets, drinking water (where applicable)
• Disabled toilets (where applicable)
• Access points
• Disabled access points (where applicable)
• Nearby footpaths
• Potential hazards (cliffs, rip currents, access problems)
• Environmentally sensitive or protected areas.
• Riverine or waste water discharges to bathing water/beach
15. Visitors should be actively encouraged to protect and conserve the beach and environments.
Some sites may prove environmentally sensitive and require particular management techniques in which case evidence must be provided to show that recognised local conservation organisations have been approached for advice and the problems addressed. It may be that the fragility of certain environments will preclude them from this sort of award on the grounds that greater visitor numbers would endanger wildlife or habitats. Some access may be restricted by signs, barriers or planting of effective vegetation. Signs should encourage dog owners to have a responsible attitude to the cleanliness and behaviour of their pets.
Further information and application forms are available from:
Keep Wales Tidy, Harbour House, Slate Quay, Caernarfon, Gwynedd,
wynne.williams@keepwalestidy.org
Tel. 01286 674081