HAVERIGG beach cannot fly its yellow flag with pride this summer after Copeland Borough Council failed to apply for a clean beaches scheme.

Residents and local councillors are furious the popular beach has lost its flag, which is a mark of water quality and cleanliness.

Silecroft, Seascale and St Bees are also forbidden from flying their flags.

This comes after the yellow flag scheme, part of the Seaside Awards, was replaced with the new Quality Coast Awards, run by ENCAMS.

Copeland council officials admitted they have not yet applied for the awards but are looking at the new criteria, which they say was handed to the council late.

But if the council does apply for the awards, it is unlikely the flags will be in place for this summer’s tourist season.

Copeland and Millom town councillor Frank McPhillips said many coastal communities are incensed by what has happened.

He said: “The yellow flags show clean beaches, which is quite an achievement, but for some reason Copeland council haven’t even bothered to apply for them. They said the criteria has changed and they didn’t have time but they were told about this 12 months ago and they haven’t come back to either the town or parish councils.

“Not having a flag takes away a bit of pride from Haverigg and other affected areas. We are going to have to keep and eye on this.”

Janice Carrol, Copeland’s waste services manager, believes the new criteria is more stringent and requires more work than the previous awards.

She claimed the council did not receive guidance until November and did not have the information or resources needed to put an application together for this summer.

She said: “Previously the applications have been much simpler, now beach management plans have to be put together for each beach.”

Seventy-three beaches across England were given the Quality Coast Awards.

A spokeswoman for ENCAMS admitted further evidence was needed in the scheme and information was sent out to all areas nearly a year ago.

She added the new criteria was causing problems and other areas have not yet applied.

Meanwhile beaches between Drigg and St Bees are to be monitored using vehicle-mounted equipment under new Environment Agency rules. This will take place over the coming months covering Sellafield, Seascale and St Bees by July 31.