New calls for a Blue Flag award at Dovercourt beach have been made by Harwich town councillors.

At a special meeting of the council last night (Monday) members were joined by the head of leisure services at Tendring Council, Brian Bennett.

Mr Bennett was repeatedly asked why Dovercourt, with clean water, has missed a Blue Flag because of a lack of onshore facilities.

The town council had not enough funds to bring up standards on the front and said Tendring Council, as the district authority, should be responsible.

They decided to write to the chief executive of Tendring Council calling for improvements to the front.

At the meeting last night town, district and county councillor Les Double said: "It could be a really important beach if somebody had a little bit of action."

Dovercourt has been unable to apply for the prestigious award because it is not regarded as a resort by the Tidy Britain Group.

In order to become a resort it would need some of the sort of on shore facilities found at Clacton.

Mr Double said the investment of Tendring Council would benefit the whole district.

But Mr Bennett said the money might not be available.

He said: "I would love to see Dovercourt become a Blue Flag beach, I would love to see all our beaches with a Blue Flag but it might cost a lot of money."

A figure quoted by Mr Double in connection to the facilities needed was £35,000. But Mr Bennett said he had received a verbal indication from the Tidy Britain Group this figure would not be enough.

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