A top Tayside beach could be classed as unsafe for swimming when tough European guidelines come into effect next year.
Monifieth beach may fall foul of new pollution caps when officials will undertake more detailed scrutiny of pollution levels on beaches which will either pass or fail.
If any beach receives five consecutively poor ratings, legislation dictates that permanent advice must be issued against bathing there.
According to predictions by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), nearly a quarter of Scottish beaches will not qualify as ‘bather-friendly’ under the regulations.
Beaches at Broughty Ferry, Arbroath West Links, Carnoustie, Lunan Bay and Montrose all stand to pass the new laws. Conditions at the award-winning Monifieth beach, however, have been classed as “poor”.
A Sepa spokesman said Monifieth’s status as being potentially unfit for bathing is to do with water quality.
Risks include “chemicals and faecal bacteria” from nearby farmland from which bathers could potentially contract illnesses.
