The efforts of the Sandown Beach Lifeguard Team have been recognised by Sandown Town Council with framed certificates presented to formally recognise their contribution to beach safety in Sandown this year.
The certificates, presented by Town Mayor Alex Lightfoot, also recognise the team’s part in securing the coveted Blue Flag Award for Sandown for the 3rd successive Summer.
Speaking about the lifeguards, Councillor Lightfoot has said:
“This has been a very busy summer for the whole team, providing a 7 day service, and supporting the extension of the accessible wheelchair initiative; and we wanted to say thank you to those for continuing to make Sandown a safe beach to visit and enjoy”.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Ian Fletcher, who helped present the certificates, adds:
‘This is very much a service that is being developed in a partnership between the Town Council, and Ryde Waterside Pool, and the service goes from strength to strength, with a beach mat and Changing Places initiative being developed for the future”.
2023 saw the introduction of beach safety volunteers, volunteers aged between 14-15-years-old who gave up their Summer holidays to support the lifeguards in their day-to-day operations. The volunteers also underwent extensive training and exams at RBLG Beach Rookies, with 2 achieving their RLSS Bronze Medallion Beach Awards in preparation of becoming the next generation of beach lifeguards.
Todd Miller, Beach Lifeguards Manager, has said:
“It has been a challenging summer in many ways, but the team have responded to the challenges and the support they have received in Sandown has been heartening and we have plans to develop the service further for 2024 onwards”.
Throughout 2023 Sandown Town Council has invested in the provision of buoys in The Bay, the provision of litter bins on the beach, has continued to support the Independent Lifeboat, has opened up Pier Street Toilets for the Summer and has replaced the toilets at Eastern Gardens with a purpose-built facility with showers and an accessible toilet.
Great work by the Beach Safety Teams. Luckily the town council were kept distracted from the appalling derelict properties along the beachfront. Hopefully someone will submit a worthy plan with envelopes a plenty.