ISLAND BEACHES have achieved a clean sweep in this year's prestigious ENCAMS beach awards.
Eleven have earned an ENCAMS Quality Coast Award and a further two will receive the recognition once Dog Control Orders, already being pursued by the IW Council, are confirmed.
Beaches at Cowes, East Cowes, Seagrove, Springvale and Totland have been granted Away From It All awards by Encams while Colwell, Gurnard, Ryde East, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor have been awarded Fun in the Sea awards.
St Helens and Yaverland can be added to the list when Dog Control orders are confirmed.
The awards will be displayed at the beaches between May and September. To ensure the standards that earned the awards are maintained snap inspections will be carried out y ENCAMS (formerly the Tidy Britain Group) surveyors around the start of the bathing season.
Under the scheme, that replaces the Seaside Awards, award-winning beaches must have:
* excellent cleanliness -- free from litter and dog fouling
* good physical condition -- making the most of the natural surroundings, free from graffiti and vandalism, any facilities must be clean and in good working order
* safe access
* appropriate signage
* safety procedures in place
Additionally those beaches recommended as a place to swim will have obtained guideline water quality.
The Island should learn in May whether its application for Blue Flag awards in Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin have been successful.