THANET’S BEACHES TOP IN THE UK

Thanet has once again received more Blue Flag awards for its beautiful beaches than anywhere else in the country in the best performance in the UK for the last decade.

In total, ten beaches in Thanet have received the prestigious award, which is only given to the top coastal destinations which have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management. That’s an improvement on the seven Blue Flags that Thanet had last year.

For the first time, Joss Bay in Broadstairs, regarded as one of the south east of England’s finest surfing beaches, has achieved the accolade.

Ramsgate Main Sands has received its first Blue Flag since 2004, while Walpole Bay in Margate also receives an award for the first time since 2006. Other beaches which will be flying the flag this summer are Botany Bay and Stone Bay in Broadstairs, Margate Main Sands, Minnis Bay in Birchington, St. Mildred’s Bay and West Bay in Westgate and Westbrook Bay.

It’s the best performance by any one area in the country since the year 2000 and is the latest improvement by Thanet, which has seen its number of Blue Flags steadily increase over recent years.

The achievement was highlighted with a focus on the area’s beaches on national TV yesterday (Sunday 1 June) on BBC Countryfile.

Cllr. Roger Latchford, Cabinet Member for Culture and Economy, said: "Our beaches are one of our area’s greatest assets, offering everything from quiet bays to get away from it all to busy family beaches and areas that are perfect for watersports, like surfing. They help to bring literally millions of visitors into Thanet, with our latest figures showing we’re attracting nearly three million people each year. The latest announcement of another record breaking year of Blue Flag awards for Thanet confirms our position as one of the country’s leading seaside areas with the some of the UK’s best beaches."

The Blue Flag scheme is  administered by Keep Britain Tidy in England. Dickie Felton from Keep Britain Tidy, said: "Thanet has more blue flag beaches than anywhere else in the country. It is a fantastic achievement, especially when you consider that in 2005 Thanet had three Blue Flag beaches. To get ten flags is the best performance anywhere in England for the last decade and this is fantastic news for Thanet."