A new initiative aimed at maintaining and improving Pembrokeshire’s high quality beaches was launched last week.

The Pembrokeshire Beach Strategy 2014-16 has been co-produced by a number of partner organisations in the County.

Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, said Pembrokeshire’s beaches attract many visitors throughout the year.

“The influx of visitors which use many of the facilities available such as the shops, tourist attractions and accommodation facilities, is vital to our county’s economy,” he said.

“Our coastline also plays an important role in the health and wellbeing of local people.

“It’s therefore in everyone’s interests to help ensure that all the beaches in Pembrokeshire are of high quality and maintain their beach awards.”

The strategy has been produced by Pembrokeshire County Council, Natural Resources Wales, D?r Cymru, Keep Wales Tidy, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Dyfed Powys Police, The Dogs Trust, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, and various town and community councils.

It builds on the Pembrokeshire Bathing Water Strategy 2013-2015, focusing not only on water quality, but also concerns with dogs on beaches, horses, litter, safety and other issues.

Huwel Manley, Environment Manager at Natural Resources Wales, said: “Ensuring people enjoy our wonderful coast is one of our main priorities and bathing water quality is a major factor in this.

“We will continue to work with the council to ensure the highest possible standards are reached in order to benefit the marine environment and the economy.”

The strategy will target resources first on the beaches with the poorest water quality, aiming to raise standards and ensure that the water is safe.

It will also concentrate on regaining awards at beaches where they have been lost and ensure that water quality does not deteriorate anywhere.