WESTCLIFF’S beach has been stripped of its Blue Flag after its water quality was downgraded following an inspection.

Blue Flags recognise beaches and marinas across the world but bathing water must have an “excellent” water quality to be receive the status.

Following a recent inspection, Westcliff Bay’s water has been downgraded to “good” and the Blue Flag lost.

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It comes after major concerns were raised about water quality across Southend’s beaches after sewage spills and Anglian Water is now investigating any direct link.

Last year, Thorpe Bay missed out on a Blue Flag due to its quality, however recent inspections saw the quality upgraded again to “excellent” so it is now once again in the running.

Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford, and David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, have expressed significant concern.

Mr Alaba said: “While I am pleased to see standards improving in Thorpe Bay, the loss of Blue Flag status for Westcliff Bay beach is a huge blow. I am deeply disappointed water quality is not hitting the gold standard we’ve always prided ourselves upon.

“We must work with providers and apply pressure where needed to drive standards back up to an ‘excellent’ rating, and win back our Blue Flag.”

Blue Flags are awarded every May, with East Beach, Shoebury Common and Three Shells currently boasting the status.

Southend West and Leigh MP, David Burton-Sampson added: “We were aware there was a possibility Westcliff Beach could lose its Blue Flag status due to water quality testing during 2023 and I’m disappointed this has now happened.

“This highlights the importance of all stakeholders working together, coordinated through our Water Quality Summits, to ensure all our beaches achieve the year-round excellent standard we expect and deserve. This is our steadfast commitment.”

Anglian Water has said “bathing water quality is complicated and can be affected by many different factors”.

Bosses are now carrying out investigations to determine if any other factors impacted the results.

In response to the change, a spokesman for Anglian Water said: “We are disappointed Southend’s Westcliff Bay bathing water has been downgraded from ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ this year.

“We’re carrying out investigations into the surface water network nearby to determine whether it impacted this result. We’re already working in partnership with local authorities, MPs and campaigners in Southend, through our regular Water Summits.

“As part of this work, we have committed to year-round bathing water testing, and carried out a very detailed overflow audit working with Southend Council and Southend Against Sewage.

“We’re also pleased to be working with Southend Council, the Regional Flood Coastal Committee and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the Marine Parade Sustainable Water Management Scheme.

“This will help alleviate flooding in Southend – and reduce the use of storm overflows – by managing much of this surface water.”