Pembrokeshire Beach Strategy 2018 – 2021 ©Pembrokeshire County Council This strategy is supported by the following organisations: Pembrokeshire County Council www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk Natural Resources Wales www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Keep Wales Tidy www.keepwalestidy.cymru Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority www.pcnpa.org.uk National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk Royal National Lifeboat Institution www.rnli.org Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water www.dwrcymru.com H.M Coastguard http://www.dft.gov.uk Town and Community Councils http://www.pembstcc.co.uk/ The following organisations will also be consulted: Dyfed Powys Police www.dyfed-powys.police.uk Dogs Trust www.dogstrust.org.uk National Farmers Union (Cymru) www.nfu-cymru.org.uk Farmers Union of Wales www.fuw.org.uk Country Land and Business Association (CLA) www.cla.org.uk Document Date Version Owner Control May 2016 Final 1.0 DFT March 2018 2.0 NM Contact information for this document: Pollution Control Team Pembrokeshire County Council 1 Cherry Grove Haverfordwest SA61 2NZ Telephone: 01437 775721 E Mail: [email protected] The Beach Strategy for Pembrokeshire 2018 - 2021 Foreword Pembrokeshire has some of the best beaches in Britain. No other county has more Blue Flag, Green Coast or Seaside awards; which all reinforce Pembrokeshire’s environmental and tourism credentials. This strategy has been produced to ensure that the high quality of Pembrokeshire’s beaches are maintained . This aim includes partnership working with many other agencies including Natural Resources Wales, Dŵr Cymru, Keep Wales Tidy, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Dyfed Powys Police, The Dogs Trust and Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services. This aim will be a challenge with the more stringent standards in The Bathing Water Directive and the increasing trend for wetter summers. The strategy, over a four year period: 2018 – 2021, will target resources first on the beaches with the poorest water quality - to raise standards ensuring that the water is safe at those beaches. Secondly, to ensure that water quality does not deteriorate at any of our beaches. Finally to focus on the environmental criteria to ensure good standards are maintained. This strategy, with its continuing commitment to partnership working, will help to ensure that Pembrokeshire maintains its reputation for high quality at all its beaches. A review of progress and of the strategy will take place at regulary intervals. Councillor Pat Davies Councillor Paul Miller Cabinet member for Environmental Cabinet member for Economy, and Regulatory Services Tourism, Leisure & Culture Contents Overall Aim........................................................................................................... 1 Who will do this? .................................................................................................. 1 Background Information ....................................................................................... 1 Beach Awards....................................................................................................... 2 Beach Byelaws ..................................................................................................... 4 Current priorities and methods.............................................................................. 4 Environmental Management.................................................................................. 8 Public Participation............................................................................................... 12 Monitoring and reporting success ..........................................................................13 Award recommendations ..................................................................................... 13 Useful Information & Links ................................................................................... 14 Appendix 1: Table showing Pembrokeshire designated and non-designated bathing waters with current awards and water quality standards Appendix 2: Action plan key points for 2018 – 2021 Appendix 3: Dog Walking Code of Conduct for Pembrokeshire Appendix 4: Code of Conduct Appendix 5: Beach Safety Appendix 6: Dog Byelaws on Beaches Appendix 7: Beach Byelaws . 1. Overall Aim To ensure that a visit to a Pembrokeshire beach is a great experience for both residents and visitors and that bathing water quality continues to be maintained. Well Being of Future Generations Act This strategy will complement the Local Well-being Plan, developed by the Pembrokeshire Public Service Board. The Well Being of Future Generations Act sets out seven goals for the kind of Wales we want to see. The public bodies who are partners in the strategy must work towards these goals. Not every action can contribute to every goal. The principle is to ensure that our work is planned and executed to achieve as many goals as possible. A Well-being Assessment has been undertaken by the Public Service Board and this assessment has identified a number fo themes including Community Safety, Health, Environment and Climate Change and Economy and Tourism. The Well-being goals are: Goal A prosperous An innovative, productive and low carbon society which Wales. recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change); and which develops a skilled and well- educated population in an economy which generates wealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing decent work. A resilient Wales. A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change (for example climate change). A healthier A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is Wales. maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood. A more equal A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter Wales. what their background or circumstances (including their socio economic background and circumstances). A Wales of Attractive, viable, safe and well connected communities cohesive communities A Wales of A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the vibrant culture Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate and thriving in the arts, and sports and recreation. Welsh language. Page | 1 A globally A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, responsible social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, takes Wales. account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being. How the Bathing Water Strategy contributes to the Well-being goals Goal A prosperous The value of the tourism industry to Pembrokeshire has been Wales. calculated at £500 million per annum. The beach awards are an icon for the Pembrokeshire brand. Our coast is an internationally recognised asset. The number of Blue Flag beaches in Pembrokeshire exceeds that of any other county in the United Kingdom. A resilient Wales. The bathing water quality that underpins the award strategy is the result of a healthy functioning ecosystem in the catchments around our coast. Our bathing water profiles identify the inland influences on water quality. It is these healthy ecosystems that support the economic resource that our coast provides. A healthier The award schemes are built around amenity and the Wales. protection of public health. Our award winning beaches are a resource for residents and visitors providing outdoor recreation and gateways to the coastal path with associated benefits for physical and mental health. A more equal Our beaches provide opportunities for inexpensive family days Wales. out. They are a playground for the people of Wales to come together A Wales of For coastal communities the award strategy provides a cohesive framework to support them as attractive safe destinations and communities attractive places to live. The economic benefits help maintain the communities’ viability. A beach can also act as a community focus as evidenced by the smoking ban introduced at Little Haven. A Wales of A challenge presented by the Well-being Act is to ensure vibrant culture multiple goals are achieved. Our award strategy has not and thriving previously considered cultural heritage as a theme. We have a Welsh language. rich historical heritage and opportunities to stimulate greater cultural activity. A globally The award strategy is international. By embracing and responsible achieving outstanding results, wales is demonstrating to the Wales. world how the sustainable management of natural resources is supporting economic, environmental and social outcomes. Sustainable Development Principle The Well-being of Future Generations Act further requires public bodies to act in accordance with the sustainable development principles as demonstrated below:- Page | 2 Long term The award strategies have been “three year” documents. The partnership that underpins it has a history of over twenty years standing. Improvements require planning with investment both financial and of time. Our vision has been one of continual incremental improvement recognising capacity of partners and resources. We want to see our standards maintained. We currently see little scope for further improvement in the short term, but as partners our vision remains undimmed. Prevention There has been a long