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More than 50 British beaches 'not safe' under new EU rules

Posted: 07 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT

More than 50 top British beaches would be declared unsafe for swimming under the European Union's new water safety rules.

The U.K.'s Environment Agency is to introduce new, stricter guidelines on water pollution in 2015.

The Telegraph has named 55 beaches in England, including popular resorts in Cornwall, Dorset and Hampshire, that do not currently meet the new standards, which would classify beaches as "excellent," "good," "sufficient" or "poor."

"For those classed as poor, beach controllers will be required to display a sign advising visitors not to swim there," said an Environment Agency spokesperson to CNN.

Sufficient, good and excellent beaches will also display their classifications to advertise better water quality.

High time

Environment agencies began monitoring England's beaches last year after the new EU standards were outlined in a revised Bathing Water Directive.

Under the new, stricter directive, which was issued in 2006 and will go into effect in 2015, full profiles including all pollution sources and levels of 500 beaches will be available on the Environment Agency's website.

It will be a long overdue overhaul -- the current standards were put into place in 1975, when the sewage outflow levels were much higher than today.

The new standards will set stricter microbiological parameters and, with the intention of raising public awareness about beach health hazards, the categories for water quality will be switched from "guideline" and "mandatory" to the new four-rating system.

The new decree means signs will also be posted at beaches warning the public about sewage sources nearby.

The usual sources of contamination at the problematic beaches include run-off water from livestock on farms, misconnected drains and sewer overflows that become overloaded during heavy rainfall, according to Public Health England.

"Livestock like animals or even people and their pets on the beach will cause contamination," said the Environment Agency spokesperson. "But it's not all doom and gloom, many of our bathing waters are good or excellent."

British beachgoers wishing to check if their destination is safe for swimming can do so via a number of free guides that use the same data from the Environment Agency, such as the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide published each year.

More on CNN: World's 50 best beaches

Extra reporting by Qin Xie

European Night of Museums: After-dinner art

Posted: 06 May 2013 11:00 PM PDT

Achluophiliacs with a cultural bent, there's a night of the year made specially for you.

The European Night of Museums on May 18 will see hundreds of museums across Europe offer after-hours visits.

Organized by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, the European Night of Museums is in its eighth year and coincides with the International Day of Museums.

Many museums, mostly across Europe, will be putting on performances, events and installations specially for the event and for free to the public.

Mulhouse, France

Museum night originated in Mulhouse, home to the highest number of museums in France outside of Paris.

The city will be putting on a big show, hosting a 1920s-themed treasure hunt with 10 museums acting as the game board. Visitors will need to purchase a "passport" for €3 ($4) that will give them two different routes to follow to explore Mulhouse and its museums.

The treasure hunt takes place from 2p.m. to 12a.m. around Mulhouse. Passports are available from www.nuitdesmysteres.fr

Château de Fontainebleau, France, will be one of those taking art in the Nigh of Museums event.

Fontainebleau, France

Château de Fontainebleau, more readily recognized as the palace in Lana del Rey's "Born to Die" music video, will be putting on an outdoor bubble installation.

The bubbles will be accompanied by music and special lighting. The palace will be free to access from 7:30 p.m.-midnight.

Château de Fontainebleau, 77300 Fontainebleau, France; www.chateaudefontainebleau.fr

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Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

The Hergé Museum is paying a tribute to comic classic, Tintin, with a Hergé and Tintin flea market and extended opening of the museum.

There will be books, toys, original artwork and figurines to buy at the flea market, which is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The museum itself will be open from 10 a.m.-11 p.m..

Musée Hergé, Rue du Labrador, 26 - B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve; www.museeherge.com

Riga, Latvia

The Krišjānis Barons Museum's usual focus is Latvian folk music but for museum night they are turning their eyes to a single color -- green.

There will be visits to green gardens, workshops on green living and green tea. And of course, there will be plenty of Latvian folk music. The events start from 6 p.m.

3 Krišjānis Barons Street, Riga, LV - 1050; www.baronamuzejs.lv

Ploieşti, Romania

Alongside the permanent exhibitions, Prahova County Art Museum in Ploieşti, Romania will have theater and music performances done in a "flash mob" style. The performances are in collaboration with local theater groups and schools.

Bulevardul Independenţei, nr. 1 – Ploieşti; www.artmuseum.ro

Elsewhere

In the United Kingdom, museum night takes place from May 16-18, the details of which can be found on www.culture24.org.uk. There's a focus on smaller museums and on venues offering sleepover events.

Geneva's museum night will also be early, taking place on May 11-12. Visitors will need a bracelet (CHF 10 ($10.70)) which gives them access to all the museum events and transport for Saturday May 11. Family events on Sunday May 12 are free for all.

A full schedule of events can be found at www.nuitdesmusees.culture.fr

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