The beaches in Brighton and Hove have excellent bathing water, according to an official report published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday (Thursday 5 November).
The report said that bathing water standards across the country were rising and praised the investment being made by water companies such as Southern Water.
The local beaches were all graded excellent in the report in a year when the standards were made tougher to meet European Union rules.
They are listed in the report as Brighton Central, Brighton Kemptown, Hove, Saltdean and Southwick.
Defra said that 97 per cent of England’s bathing waters passed the minimum tougher standard this year and 63.6 per cent met the new excellent standard.
The department said: “Our nation’s bathing waters have continually improved since 1990 when just 27 per cent met strict water quality standards.”
Environment Minister Rory Stewart: “Our bathing waters continue to get better, with 97 per cent meeting new tougher standards.
“We continue working to further improve the quality of our water and last year our coast was the cleanest it has ever been.
“Swimming is allowed and all beaches remain open. New EU standards are simply there to advise and inform the public on water quality.
“I want Britain’s beaches, seas and lakes to have the cleanest water in the world. We need everyone to help us achieve this – from government, water companies and councils to local communities.”
The Environment Agency’s director of land and water Pete Fox said: “Water quality at beaches is better than any time in living memory, with dramatic improvements having been made over the last few decades.
“The Environment Agency has led successful work to monitor, investigate and reduce pollution, which has benefited the environment and people.”
Dr Fox added: “The Environment Agency will continue to encourage water companies, local authorities, farmers, and businesses to work together to maintain and improve water quality.
“The results are based on samples taken by the Environment Agency over the last four years. Information about each beach is available on the Bathing Water Explorer website.”
Defra added that more than £2.5 billion had been invested by water companies to improve bathing waters since privatisation.
