Cranfield gets TIDY Award

Now that the summer is here for an hour or two get the towel and costumes out and head for Cranfield to get a bit of a cooling!

Today awarding body TIDY Northern Ireland, in association with Northern Ireland Tourist Board announced that Cranfield Beach West received the Resort Seaside Award

TIDY Northern Ireland is urging people to take a trip to an award winning beach and dip a toe in the sea or have a picnic. To help everyone find out where their nearest award winning beach or marina is TIDY Northern Ireland launched a special map at today’s event, which will be available online, via all Tourist Board Information Visitor Centres and at local beaches.

Cranfield Beach West received the Resort Seaside Award for the 2013 season.  Resort beaches must meet thirty criteria, including Good bathing water quality as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive. Despite Cranfield achieving ‘excellent’ bathing water quality according to the legal EU standards, the beach will not fly the Blue Flag in 2013 as a result of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) who have brought forward new standards on water quality two years ahead of schedule.  However the beach will operate as normal with the RNLI Lifeguards on duty during July and August.

Speaking on behalf of Newry & Mourne District Council, Mayor John McArdle said “Newry and Mourne District Council continue to work with NIEA and Tidy Northern Ireland to maintain excellent standards.  Cranfield offers a family friendly gently sloping, mainly sandy beach located at the entrance to Carlingford Lough, this south facing beach boasts the majestic Mourne Mountain Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as its backdrop”.

Patricia Magee, National Coastal Officer, TIDY Northern Ireland said “Cranfield Beach has met the stringent requirements for “Excellent” bathing water quality standards and has excellent facilities for people to enjoy throughout the summer. I actively encourage the public to continue to make use of this wonderful beach and the services provided by Newry & Mourne District Council.”