Sidmouth’s water quality rated as ‘excellent’

East Devon has secured its best-ever results from water quality inspectors after seven beaches - including Sidmouth’s - achieved the top rating.

The town’s seafront and Jacob’s Ladder were rated as ‘excellent’ alongside Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Sandy Bay and Seaton. Ladram Bay received a ‘good’ rating.

It is the best result the district has ever had from Defra.

Councillor Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “I am delighted that all of the beaches managed by the council have been classified as ‘excellent’. To have gone from four ‘excellent’ rated beaches to seven, in the course of just one year, is a marvellous achievement of which we are very proud. I am also pleased that Ladram Bay has moved up from ‘sufficient’ to ‘good’. The quality of bathing water across the country is at an all time high - with 98 per cent of places tested being rated as ‘excellent’.

Cllr Chubb added: “There are significant health benefits to being at the beach, so it is brilliant that our bathing waters are clean and safe for people to enjoy. However, it is important to remember that they are particularly susceptible to short-term pollution, caused by heavy rain and sometimes agricultural run-off into rivers and streams, so bathers should always wash their hands after swimming or paddling in the sea.”