Have a clean break with Pitchup.com

Outdoor accommodation specialist adds at-a-glance charts showing quality of bathing water near holiday hotspots 

• Charts show water quality over four-year period

• Covers all beaches and inland bathing areas in the UK and beyond

• First UK accommodation site to include such detail

• Holidaymakers can sift out dirty beaches and find designated clean areas

As the Environment Agency works towards tougher EU bathing water rules* coming into force in 2015, outdoor holiday specialist Pitchup.com has launched a new bathing water quality chart on each and every site listing.

The online travel agent is doing its bit to ensure holidaymakers have a cleaner, healthier break by adding official quality ratings** for water on nearby beaches and inland bathing areas around the UK and beyond.

Clients searching for accommodation on Pitchup.com’s desktop and mobile websites can now view the charts rating nearby coastal and inland bathing areas for their cleanliness.

The charts are colour-coded, with green meaning the water is 'excellent', amber meaning it’s 'good' and red meaning it’s 'poor'.

Information is provided over a four-year period, with data supplied by the European Union. 

The clean water data has also been incorporated into Pitchup.com’s search filters, so users are now able to search for accommodation near excellent water quality in the same way they can search for sites that are near World Heritage sites, national parks or those that have good surfing.

Pitchup.com believes it is the first UK accommodation provider to include such detailed information and it means holidaymakers can be reassured they’re booking accommodation near to designated clean water areas.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com said: “Pitchup.com has long promoted good water quality, initially publishing bathing water data in 2009. Now we’re adding more detail. For listings throughout the EU, we’re publishing the last four years’ water quality (2009-2012) on the local attractions page, for the nearest bathing waters.

“It’s been a mammoth task, importing data on over 22,000 bathing waters, but one which we believe adds extra value to customers.

“No one wants to go swimming in contaminated water. Aside from the fact it’s unpleasant, health risks include ear, nose or throat infections or even gastroenteritis.

“This additional information means customers can find the cleanest beaches or inland bathing water near to their preferred accommodation site.”

Making this extra information clear on the Pitchup.com site comes ahead of EU plans to tighten bathing water standards by 2015.

In November 2013 the UK Environment Agency released a list of 45 ‘problem’ bathing waters under the forthcoming classifications***, with stretches of coast including Blackpool, Scarborough and Clacton failing to meet minimum standards.

For more information visit www.pitchup.com

- ends -

* Tougher requirements are being introduced as part of new bathing water regulations (Directive 2006/7/EC). All bathing waters in the EU will need to be at least of ‘sufficient’ quality by the end of the 2015 bathing season. EU member states must take the necessary measures to improve the number of bathing waters of ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ quality

** Quality ratings are determined annually via regular bathing water tests conducted by EU member states, and reported to the European Environment Agency (http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/status-and-monitoring/state-of-bathing-water/bathing-water-data-viewer). Pitchup.com’s charts relate to scores for the period 2009-12 under the existing testing regulations. Scores for 2013 are expected to be published in May.

*** Projected revised classifications for the UK are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255310/bathing-water-classifications-112013.pdf

Media information:

Cass Helstrip, Samantha Marsh or Jardine Howlett at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Jardine.howlett@whitetigerpr.com 07866 508737

Notes to editors

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of outdoor accommodation in the UK, Ireland and France. The site provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book an outdoor holiday with total ease. The customer experience from landing on the home page through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages. The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for accommodation based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions. Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available. Pitchup.com features over 5,000 UK wide camping and caravanning sites/parks with France recently added into the equation. It enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one off campsites and unique outdoor accommodation options, which may not have previously had a web presence.