FOUR coastal villages in South East Cornwall are celebrating their success after being recommended in the Good Beach Guide 2002.

The twin towns of Kingsand and Cawsand make the pages as do Portwrinkle and Downderry, a boost for tourism and for the pleasure of local people.

Cornwall has 59 beaches listed, and the South West is the top region all told with 199 beaches recommended.

Authorities which apply for their beaches to be included in the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide have the quality of their water monitored during the previous bathing season, by the Environmental Agency, from which the Society compiles its book.

The Guide also has details on beach access, amenities, activities, disabled access and bathing safety recommended for all.

Mr Peter Bishop, Chairman of the South East Cornwall Tourism Association, said he was delighted to learn these beaches in the Caradon area had been included.

'They should be congratulated on their efforts to achieve this recognition' he said. 'It is so important to improve the quality of facilities generally and to remember that Cornwall's beaches are still a major player in the tourist industry'.

However, South East Cornwall's most popular family beach at Looe, and a close neighbour to successful Downderry, has not been included in the Guide.

Mayor Wally Scarah, who is also vice chairman of East Looe Town Trust which owns the beach, says there is no disappointment, simply because they had not applied to be included.

Exciting

'We have asked to be assessed in the past and failed' he said, 'and the Trust has taken the decision that we will wait until we are able to meet all the criteria, and that will probably be within the next couple of seasons'.

Mr Scarah said the water quality was improving all the time since Looe's multi-million pound works on the Millpool had eradicated the escaping of effluent into the river and out into the bay, and the Trust was engaged in an exciting project for the enhancement of the Looe seafront.

Many beaches which are also popular with residents of South East Cornwall but are in different districts have made the grade, including Polzeath, Daymer, Trevone and Harlyn Bays, all three beaches at Newquay, Pentewan, Charlestown, and Crinnis.