AYR MSP Siobhian Brown has praised the work being done to improve the quality of the region's bathing water.

Four beaches across Ayr, Prestwick and Troon received a rating of ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ quality status from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

Ayr (South Beach), Heads of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon (South Beach) are among a record 87 per cent of Scotland’s bathing waters that are of either an 'Excellent' or 'Good' standard.

The SEPA figures show the number of 'Excellent' quality bathing waters in Scotland has skyrocketed from 17 out of 84 designated bathing waters in 2015, to 50 out of 89 for 2025.

Back in 2017 when Mrs Brown was an Ayr West councillor, she campaigned for improvements at Ayr South Beach, which had been facing its fourth consecutive year of 'poor' water quality in 2017.

However, in 2020 working alongside Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scottish Water, SEPA and the Scottish Government, Scottish Water invested £10m for increased storm storage capacity which has aided the water quality improvements.

The MSP said: “I welcome these statistics from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and look forward to continuing improvements in Scotland’s water quality here in South Ayrshire.

“The news that four beaches across Ayr, Prestwick and Troon have recorded an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ standard of water quality shows the difference SNP policies are making here in South Ayrshire.

"In the last 10 years, we have seen a 22 per cent increase in 'Good' or 'Excellent' waters across Scotland.

"This is a testament to the hard work of all those who do their part to clean up our shores throughout the year.

“When it comes to water, people know Scotland is streets ahead."