COBO’S failure to meet basic water quality has shocked people who have an interest in the beach. It is arguably Guernsey’s most popular bay, attracting thousands of people every summer, but its water is below the European Union legal minimum standard.

The Marine Conservation Society published its Good Beach Guide for 2008 yesterday and announced that the west coast beach was the only one in Guernsey to fail the basic test. Pembroke Bay failed last year, but has recovered to receive a basic pass, while L’Eree and Port Soif are the island’s only beaches to be recommended by the society.

Dave Nussbaumer, proprietor of the Rockmount Hotel on the Cobo Coast Road, said he was concerned by the findings. ‘Dear, oh dear, that’s disappointing,’ he said.

‘People are more and more concerned about the environment so I think people do take note of it. I don’t know if it will bother the locals as much as the visitors, but it’s bound to put people off.’