Torbay Council has voted unanimously to withdraw from the internationally recognised Blue Flag beach awards programme, opting instead to create its own certification system.
The Devon authority will replace the prestigious flags with its own English Riviera Bathing Standards scheme, with preparations now underway before the 2026 summer season begins.
Torbay has held a distinguished position in the Blue Flag programme since its inception in the mid-1980s, consistently ranking among Britain’s top resorts for the accolade.
Six beaches currently fly the coveted flags: Breakwater, Broadsands, Meadfoot, Oddicombe, Preston and Torre Abbey Sands.
The council maintains that revised Blue Flag requirements have rendered the scheme unsuitable for the area’s coastline.
Updated criteria now demand that beaches be divided into separate zones for swimmers, surfers, paddleboarders and motorised watercraft.
Councillor Adam Billings argued that such stipulations are designed for expansive sandy stretches rather than Torbay’s characteristic small coves.
“Trying to apply that system in Torbay would be a logistical challenge,” he stated.
Torbay Council has voted unanimously to withdraw from the internationally recognised Blue Flag beach awards programme, opting instead to create its own certification system
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At Oddicombe, measuring just 180 metres in length, implementing zoning would mean excluding certain beach users entirely to accommodate others.
The gently sloping Broadsands would require hundreds of metres of buoys simply to specify the required zones.
Opposition councillors initially challenged the Conservative-led administration’s decision, with critics warning that the English Riviera’s reputation could suffer from what appeared to be the council “marking its own homework”.
Councillor Cordelia Law questioned the timing: “With so much focus on pollution in our seas at the moment, is now the right time to be ditching our membership of the Blue Flag scheme?”
The Blue Flag scheme is globally recognised eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that meet high environmental and safety standards
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Councillor Darren Cowell criticised the move as an “11th hour” decision taken without adequate consultation with the tourism sector.
However, the council contends that its replacement scheme will deliver more frequent and stringent water quality testing than the revised Blue Flag system would provide.
Despite the concerns raised, several councillors expressed confidence in the new approach. Councillor Martin Brook suggested the scheme presents an opportunity to better promote all 25 of Torbay’s beaches.
“I think this new scheme can help us celebrate and market them in a much better way than we can currently,” he said.
Councillor Mark Spacagna offered similar reassurance: “There isn’t going to be any negative change that I can see.”
The council also noted that the English Riviera BID Company, representing local tourism businesses, had been highly supportive of the transition.
Following a lengthy debate, the overview and scrutiny committee ultimately voted unanimously to proceed with the change.