Thanet’s beaches have been awarded six Blue Flags and twelve Seaside Awards following the announcement of this year’s Keep Britain Tidy Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, now in its 38th year.
Having met the high standards required, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has once again given Thanet’s key beaches the internationally recognised stamp of approval.
The number of Blue Flag awarded beaches now totals six, up from four last year, with new awards for both Margate Main Sands and Ramsgate Main Sands. This is the first Blue Flag for Ramsgate Main Sands since 2016, and for Margate Main Sands since 2023. In total, 12 of Thanet’s beaches now have awards.
- Blue Flags and combined Seaside Awards have been awarded for Minnis Bay, Birchington; St. Mildred’s Bay, Westgate-on-Sea; Margate Main Sands; Botany Bay and Joss Bay in Broadstairs, and Ramsgate Main Sands.
- Seaside Awards are awarded to West Bay, Westgate-on-Sea; Westbrook Bay and Walpole Bay, in Margate; and Stone Bay, Viking Bay and Louisa Bay in Broadstairs.
Cllr Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services, said: “We’re very proud of our six Blue Flags and twelve Seaside Awards. Having Blue Flags once again for the popular main beaches in Margate and Ramsgate is especially good news for Thanet.
“These awards are the result of a great deal of hard work to keep up the high standards of our beaches. Work goes on all year round, not just over the summer. Our fabulous beaches are one of the main reasons that people come to Thanet. Local people, as well as visitors, expect our 19 miles of coastline to be well-maintained and safe, and this year’s awards show that our beaches are meeting the standards that people look for.”
“I would like to thank all of the council officers, partners, businesses, volunteers and residents, who work hard at keeping our beaches as clean and enjoyable as possible. These internationally-recognised awards would not be possible without their continued dedication.
“We are proud that whichever part of Thanet’s coastline you choose to visit you can find a well-managed, award-winning beach.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world. It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over 12 beaches in Thanet, demonstrating their quality to residents and visitors alike.
“The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.
“Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards.”
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.
Blue Flag, the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas, is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
It is only presented to beaches with water which has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive and has an environmental education programme, and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:
- Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
- Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems
- Environmental management, including litter and waste
- Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard
For more information on Thanet’s beaches and bays, go to Visit Thanet.
