AINSDALE IS NO LONGER IN SOUTHPORT'S SHADOW

THE British Seaside Holiday is changing. Gone are the days of Punch & Judy shows, deck chairs, dirt soaked sands and a sea of fag ends as a new era is on the horizon and it is starting in the North West.

On Friday 4 June, Ainsdale beach in Merseyside, was reveled in European glory as it grabs the North West's FIRST EVER Blue Flag.

Hidden by the busy sands and touristy nature of Southport, Ainsdale has rarely had much to shout about, until now so, invited were the TV and other media groups, who all decended on to the beach.

UK Blug Flag organisers ENCAMS believe that with the Liverpool's Capital of Culture 2008 bid, Ainsdale could clean up nicely in terms of attracting a new kind of tourist to the area and cashing in on what would be well received revenue. 

With further improvements around the town itself, such as its transport links to the surrounding cities and airports there is great potential to get some foreign feet on Ainsdale sands.

Joanne Whitaker, Regional Director of ENCAMS said:- "It's a fantastic day for Ainsdale and the North West as a whole. Blue Flag Awards are not easy to come by and it is through sheer dedication and hard work that Ainsdale achieved such a well deserved honour. 

Hopefully it is the first of many for the North West and could imply greater improvement for the local economy in the long term, particularly with Southport Beach."

A Blue Flag is only awarded to beaches who manage to meet strict European standards when it comes to things such as litter, water quality and
amenities. 

Ainsdale's success has been matched by other parts of the United Kingdom where all nations and regions have either maintained or bettered their score from last year. Leading the way with 35 awards is Wales with the South West of England coming in second with 25. Scotland has two new entries, raising their tally to eight. 

Also revealed that day was the new Beach Bus that will be operating on the beach. This service will not only be operated every half hour over the summer, but also it will give a talk to its passengers, telling them all the information about the beach and the nature on it.

On anouther interesting note... we got to find out just what Andy Bonner, Granada's top roaming reporter, skills were like on a Kite Buggy, when give a report to camera. "It is amazingly hard it is to control. I will have to come back to Ainsdale to have anouther go. This time with out the camera on me!" He told us afterwards. 

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