Families heading to Fylde’s beaches can feel more confident about enjoying the sea, thanks to encouraging improvements in the latest water quality ratings from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
St Annes North has climbed from a ‘poor’ rating to ‘sufficient’ in the 2025 classifications, a welcome step forward for one of our most loved coastal spots. St Annes has held its ‘sufficient’ rating, showing steady progress.
These ratings are based on four years of water testing. While results from 2024 and 2025 show clear signs of improvement, older data from 2022 and 2023 still affects the overall score. That’s why Fylde Council is keeping the pressure on, working with partners to make sure the upward trend continues.
The Council is part of the Turning Tides Partnership and the Fylde Peninsula Partnership, bringing together councils, water companies, environmental experts and community groups to tackle pollution at its source. Recent work includes major upgrades to sewer systems through United Utilities’ AMP8 investment programme to 2030, investigations by the Fylde Technical Bathing Water Group to track down pollution in the Ribble and Douglas catchments, and ongoing support from volunteer groups like Fylde Coast Against Sewage (FCAS), who play a vital role in raising awareness and pushing for change.
Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “These improvements show we’re moving in the right direction. We’re absolutely committed to working with our partners to deliver the excellent bathing water quality our residents and visitors deserve. As well as the regulatory organisations, I’d like to thank the volunteering groups who work hard to keep our beach and bathing waters clean, as well as Fylde Coast Against Sewage who undertook extra water testing last year and continue to raise awareness of this important work.”
Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Lead Member for Environment, added: “I’m personally delighted to see this improvement after so much hard work from everyone involved. Our dedication to clean, safe and welcoming beaches is stronger than ever. Special thanks must go to our volunteer groups who have physically entered the water to take samples – their hands-on commitment has been invaluable. This is what happens when councils, experts and volunteers pull together — real change.”
For the latest updates on Fylde’s bathing waters and what the ratings mean, visit:
https://new.fylde.gov.uk/resident/leisure/leisure/beaches/
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