JUST two beaches in Scotland - both in Fife - have passed the top European test for environmental quality, it has been announced, to the irritation of organisations across the country.
The total number of European Blue Flag awards presented to beaches across Britain has increased from 38 last year to 45 now. But 23 are in England, 13 in Wales and seven in Northern Ireland. Only two are in Scotland.
Beaches fail to achieve the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe's criteria for two basic reasons: either the water quality is too poor or the land-based facilities, such as car parks and toilets, are too few.
These criteria demand that the local council and the local water authority work closely together, a partnership that is relatively untried and, some authorities admit, a problem.
Raw sewage is no longer pumped into the seas, but an ongoing multi-million pound investigation launched by West of Scotland Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and North and South Ayrshire Council has found pollution around the Ayrshire coast may be the result of inland agricultural practices.
''We are convinced that sewage is not causing our beaches to fail,'' said a spokesman for the company. ''Studies show that bacteria from inland rivers are to blame.''
The successful Blue Flag beaches, West Sands at St Andrews and Silver Sands at Aberdour, are both controlled by Fife council, which is delighted.
But Keep Scotland Beautiful, the independent charity that acts as the Scottish branch of the Tidy Britain Group, which co-ordinates the flag awards, admitted that Scotland was ''selling itself short''.
Director Rob Dickson said: ''We were not surprised that Scotland received just two awards; it has never received more than that. But Scotland is selling itself short. There is more that can be done and will be done.''
Mr Dickson pointed to the review into Scotland's beaches, headed by Lord Sewel, Scottish Environment Minister. Findings are expected later this month.
The review is drawing up criteria to which Scottish beaches will have to conform before they can be designated as ''Identified Bathing Waters''. Once a beach is awarded this label, Sepa is obliged to monitor the coastline and the local water authority must maintain standards of cleanliness in its vicinity.
Mr Dickson believes that once beaches achieve this first standard, it will be a gradual progression to achieve the highest accolade of the Blue Flag award.
But the Scottish Tourist Board criticised the awards' standards and claimed that many of Scotland's beaches were ineligible despite being clean and safe.
''For many of the remote beaches, it isn't practical to have life guards present all the summer months,'' said a spokesman. ''The local authorities don't have the resources.
''Let's not be misleading: there's concern about quality of water around the Clyde and Forth. Water quality in Scotland needs to be addressed.''
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