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This year, once again, it has been announced with much acclaim that the Island has won top honours by gaining no fewer than three Blue Flag Awards, for Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor beaches.

This strikes me as ever so slightly odd when considering this "prestigious" awards criteria regarding life guard provision.

This excerpt taken from the Blue Flag International criteria pdf:

http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Criteria/Beach+Criteria/Beach+Criteria+and+Explanatory+Notes+2011.pdf

Safety and services

The provision of lifesaving personnel/equipment at a beach should be seen as only one element of

an overall strategy that includes information and education.

The presence of lifeguards at a Blue Flag beach is recommended in order to increase the safety

level at the beach, especially where there are a high number of beach visitors. There must be an

adequate number of lifeguards (a minimum of two) placed at appropriate intervals (not more than

200m recommended) according to the beach characteristics and use. The number of lifeguards

must increase according to peak usage.

Lifeguards must have appropriate national or international qualifications. Certificates must be

checked prior to employment and must be made available to the National Operator on request. 

Lifeguards should only be employed for lifeguarding and not in combination with duties such as

water sports, rentals and services, cleaning or other duties. 

Added to which the Blue Flag Criteria 2011 – England - Additional Guidance, states:

Safety and services

An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach (I). Provision of lifeguarding should be determined by the results of your risk assessment. However, the presence of lifeguards at a Blue Flag beach is recommended in order to increase the safety level at the beach, especially at beaches with a high number of beachgoers. If lifeguards are present, there must be an adequate number (minimum two) placed at appropriate intervals according to the beach characteristics and use. The number of lifeguards can vary over the Blue Flag season according to peak and low use of the beach. Lifeguards should be easily recognisable and must have appropriate lifesaving equipment.

I am starting to wonder if I imagined the councils intentions to cut funding for the lifeguard service.

Dont rely on a Newfoundland to save you as they are banned from these Island beaches

The Blue Flag criteria given in the International criteria document you quote also states that if the specific criteria is classed as "imperative criteria" it must be complied with fully.

"The criteria are categorised as either imperative or guideline. Most beach criteria are imperative, i.e. the beach must comply with them in order to be awarded Blue Flag accreditation. If they are guideline criteria, it is preferable that they are complied with, but not mandatory. It must be emphasised that the Blue Flag beach criteria in this document are the minimum criteria."

The Safety section (page 19) says that the lifeguard provision is an "IMPERATIVE" criteria, however it only appears only to be RECOMMENDED "that the local authority undertake an official risk assessment of the beach (carried out by the appropriate national authority or body of expertise), and that an appropriate response strategy to the assessment be put in place"

Does this mean that it is down to the Council to decide whether lifeguards are necessary or not? If so, so much for beach safety.

 The criteria continues with "On beaches with low hazard risks and with few users, lifesaving equipment can replace lifeguards." Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor are all resort beaches and I can see no way they could be categorized as having few users.

A Freedom of information request could well be the order of the day to establish whether an official risk assessment and response strategy were carried out, for each of the Islands Blue Flag beaches, and what the findings were. Also I believe it is up to the authority to ensure that they are fully aware of all the criteria and to ensure they comply prior to applying for the award.

Good idea Pete, might prove very interesting. Will you make the FOI request as I am unable to for the time being due to circumstances.