Bathing ban on Thanet's coastline continues

Beach users are still being urged to stay out of the sea and to avoid walking below the high tide line across all Thanet beaches. That’s the message following a major discharge of sewage from the Southern Water Foreness Point Sewage Pumping Station.

Cleansing crews from Thanet District Council have been working hard over the bank holiday weekend to clear the shoreline and beaches of debris.

The Environment Agency has undertaken a number of water quality tests which will then be used to help determine when it is safe to lift the restriction on bathing in the sea.

To inform the public, signage has been placed across Thanet’s beaches and bays by Southern Water, with the council placing additional signs to reinforce the message. Red flags have been in place on lifeguarded beaches and RNLI lifeguards have also assisted in communicating the message to visitors on the beach.

Although members of the public are being asked to stay out of the sea, and to stay above the high tide line, the beaches and promenades are still safe to use and beach concessions are open for business as usual.

Director of Operational Services, Mark Seed, said: “This decision is not something we’ve taken lightly. Preventing people from swimming in the sea is not something we want to do, but in the circumstances this was the only possible course of action. Our crews have been out working hard to clear up the shoreline all bank holiday to ensure the beaches are still open for business, and we have teams out across Thanet today as part of this. The decision to lift this restriction will be made as soon as we know it’s safe to do so and, in the meantime, our advice to the public is to stay out of the sea until further notice is given.”

Jon Griffin, Senior Environment Officer with the Environment Agency said: "We are working in partnership with Thanet District Council and other organisations to monitor the impacts of this event. We are awaiting the results of bathing water quality tests to make informed decisions with Thanet District Council about the re-opening of Thanet’s waters for bathing.”

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• 2nd bathing update 8/6/12
• 1st Bathing update 4/8/12