Good Beach Guide grading puts Portelet on quality watch

PORTELET BAY'S water quality will be 'closely monitored', according to the Environment Department, after the beach slipped from the highest standard to the lowest in this year's Good Beach Guide.

Portelet was rated only 'mandatory' in the guide, meaning it achieved the minimum acceptable results.

In a statement, the Environment Department said: 'Portelet's bathing water quality will be closely monitored to try to determine the source of any pollution.'

Guernsey beaches generally scored highly in the 2013 guide.

Nine out of 14 achieved the 'recommended' rating – the highest the guide awards. This level means the water quality is excellent, surpassing the guide's outline for acceptability.