Excellent bathing water designations for north-east beaches welcomed

Gordon MP Richard Thomson has welcomed the latest research from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which has rated Balmedie and Aberdeen beaches as "Excellent" and Collieston as "Good" in terms of quality of bathing water.

In 2024 98 per cent of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet, or exceed, the Sufficient classification – with 84 per cent achieving the higher standards of Excellent or Good.

Mr Thomson said: “This is excellent news for Balmedie, for Collieston and for Aberdeen, all of which are in their own very different ways very popular destinations for local visitors and tourists alike.

“I commend SEPA for their work with regulated operators and stakeholders across the country to drive millions of pounds of investment to bring about changes needed to make our bathing waters a success story.

“It stands in marked contrast to the situation elsewhere in the UK where water quality is increasingly an issue of concern.”

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Mairi McAllan MSP said: “Scotland now has the highest number of designated Bathing Water sites ever, with the vast majority classified as good or excellent.

"This demonstrates the benefits of our continued investment in protecting and improving bathing waters across the country.

"However, we are not complacent and will continue to work closely with SEPA and Scottish Water to monitor and improve water quality, to make sure that as many people as possible are able to enjoy them.”

For the 2024 bathing season Scotland’s bathing water classifications will be 38 (43 per cent) Excellent; 37 (42 per cent) Good; 12 (13%) Sufficient and two (two per cent) Poor.

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