A move by Eurocrats which could have had major repercussions on Ulster’s traditional seaside tourist industry, has been averted.

This is according to Ulster Unionist MLA, George Savage who has claimed to have successfully challenged the right of Europe to close Ulster beaches which don’t meet water quality standards.

The Upper Bann Assembly member said he has has secured the backing of the EU’s Committee of the Regions for amendments he proposed to recommendations to the EU Commission on the quality of bathing water.

Mr Savage, who has served on the Committee for the past four years, had argued that immediate closure of beaches which failed to meet new and higher EU standards on water quality, was unacceptable to the public and would damage local tourism in many cases.

Mr Savage said: “The amendments I successfully proposed will prevent the Commission taking immediate powers to close beaches that do not pass the new stringent bathing water quality standards being introduced which is being addressed by the Water Service here at present."

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland could lose out on millions of pounds of tourist revenue because of the quality of its beaches.

This is according to Tidy Northern Ireland, organisers of the UK's awards scheme for beaches, who issued the warning after it was revealed that only local beaches feature in a list of top seaside resorts.

Organisers have also warned that plans to toughen up on water quality levels could affect the rating of several beaches.

(MB)