Angus is celebrating after four of the county’s main beaches won Seaside Award flags through the Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) campaign.
For the first time Arbroath and Lunan Bay joined long-term winners Montrose and Carnoustie in the national awards.
There was also some disappointment that despite maintaining its Seaside Award, Montrose beach will not receive coveted Blue Flag status this year.
Part of this was down to recent storm damage to beach infrastructure.
The Seaside Award has been recognising Scotland’s best managed beaches for 18 years, and this year 56 beaches have achieved award status.
There are two categories one which recognises the more rural nature of Scotland’s beaches and a second which is given to resort beaches.
All seaside award winners, no matter which category they fall into, must have well-managed bathing water quality, good facilities where present, excellent litter management, information provision and community involvement.
Adequate safety measures must also be in place.
Angus received a resort Seaside Award for Montrose for the seventh year in a row and rural award status for Carnoustie (fifth year), Arbroath and Lunan Bay.
Angus now has awards for all of its officially designated bathing waters one of only two local authorities in Scotland to achieve this.
KSB chief executive John Summers said, “Over the last 10 years the number of seaside awards in Scotland has more than quadrupled.
“It is particularly exciting to see two new beaches achieve award status on the Angus coastline.”
He added, “I’d also like to encourage people, particularly in this economic climate, to make use of the fantastic beaches we have around the Scottish coast this summer.”
Mr Summers said that visitors can let KSB know what they think of the beaches at their website.Blue Flag disappointmentCouncillor Jim Millar, convener of neighbourhood services, said, “We are lucky in Angus to have such a beautiful coastline.
“I am delighted that four of our beaches have seaside awards and two, Arbroath and Lunan Bay, are new award winners.”
Councillor Bob Spink said he was delighted to hear of the award for Lunan Bay, adding, “Lunan Bay is one of the jewels in the Angus crown.
“I’m delighted that our beaches have been given this recognition which can only help attract visitors to them.”
He added, “I’m always telling people that there is everything in Angus beaches, mountains, rivers, lochs you can find anything you want here. We are very lucky.”
Regarding the loss of Blue Flag status at Montrose, a council spokesperson said, “It is disappointing that Montrose will not fly the Blue Flag this year.
“We will now analyse this decision carefully, ensure that any damage caused by the winter storm is rectified, and consider how we can regain blue flag status for Montrose.”
Montrose councillor Sandy West said, “Angus Council has put a great deal of money into gaining the Blue Flag status so it is very, very disappointing for it to now be taken away.
“Until I look into it, I’m not sure if we can do something do get it back again.”