A UK beach that has been awarded a ‘Brown Flag’ for being one of the dirtiest in the UK is also a parking nightmare, where people say “you will be fined £100” by “Big Brother”.
Porthluney Beach in Cornwall is, one the face of it, a stunning sandy paradise, but UK travel site Holiday Park Guru analysed Environment Agency summer water quality data from hundreds of beaches and found that it harbours a dirty secret.
The website isolated the 13 dirtiest beaches in the country, and they are now being offered ‘Brown Flag Awards’ with complimentary flags featuring a poo emoji to display for swimmers.
READ MORE: Brits slam ‘UK’s most disappointing beach’ and warn others ‘don’t waste your time’
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These beaches are rated as ‘poor’ by the Environment Agency due to bacteria such as e-coli from sewage and other waste.
And beachgoers have said it isn’t just the water that’s the issue, with dozens of complaining about the parking nightmare there.
Writing on TripAdvisor about her September 2023 trip, Sarah T said she wouldn’t be returning to Portluney Beach because of the parking situation.
She said she used the parking machine to pay cash and was later fined.
Sarah continued: “After leaving Cornwall had a £100 parking fine, appealed, to no avail and of course threw my parking ticket away so no evidence. Not going back to this car park or beach again after reading so many reviews about parking fines.”
(Image: Getty Images/500px Plus)
Among dozens more complaints of an almost identical issue was one from Leo R, who said his holiday was “ruined”.
“Whoever owns this place is using it to print money. I won’t be returning to Cornwall again as this place ruined the holiday as we were on a very limited budget,” he wrote in July 2023.
Another person said the “money grabbing, heartless private parking company ruined a beautiful beach.”
David added that greed has “ruined” the once beautiful beach. He wrote in September 2022: “Shame on the owners for being so greedy to spoil what was once a great place to visit for a safe swim and reasonable bite to eat.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Not anymore from my recent experience of poor food, dirty beach and the hassle of trying to use a machine that makes you feel that Big Brother is watching your every move to fine you for even more money. Last visit to this part of town I feel!”
The good news is that Cornwall has 72 designated bathing beaches that are rated as ‘excellent’ – more than any other English county by total number.
Overall, 81% of Cornwall’s beaches are considered ‘excellent’ for the quality of their sea water.
The parking is overseen by Initial Parking, who have been approached for comment.
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