Code of Conduct for responsible beach use

The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is for bathing only.

People applying to use the pool will need to provide risk assessments, safe working practices and evidence of insurance.

The Boating Pool on Margate Main Sands is strictly a no swimming or diving zone for safety reasons.

Keep off pool walls at all times as these are a slip hazard.

Do not use inflatables in windy conditions. Be aware of offshore winds.

Specific rules apply to the use of personal powered watercraft including jet skis. They are in place to ensure watercraft don’t pose a risk to the safety of people or wildlife.

It is prohibited to use watercraft in a manner that may cause harassment, alarm and distress to any other beach or coast users, residents or wildlife.

Please refer to the Jet Ski Code of Conduct – a detailed code of conduct for jet ski use can be found on the council’s website.

You must comply with international regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea. These include guidelines issued by the Royal Yacht Club, the Coastguard, as well as local rules and Thanet District Council’s Coastal Code of Conduct. Fines can be issued if jet skis are operated in an antisocial or unsafe manner. Clubs and concessions may also restrict or ban the use of jet skis. Jet skis may only launch from the clubs / concessions listed on the Code of Conduct.

Use designated launch sites and do not enter restricted areas.

Organised groups of over 20 people on the beaches need to seek permission first, contact the council’s Beach and Coast Team (details at the end of the page).

Any authorised gatherings are required to ensure that minimum nuisance is caused to nearby houses by making sure adequate transport and / or supervision is provided when people are leaving the area. No glass to be taken onto the beach or approach areas and all rubbish removed from beaches. If the bins are full please take your rubbish with you.

Balloon and sky lantern releases are not permitted on council land. Please find alternative ways to celebrate or mark an occasion.

Advice can be found on RSPCA’s website.

Bonfires are not permitted on any of the council’s land at any time. Under no circumstances are open bonfires to be built on the beach.

Barbecues are not permitted on any of the council’s land, however are permitted on beaches after 6pm.

Barbecues must be set up on the beach / promenade away from cafés, concessions or any other buildings. They must be extinguished by 10pm.

It is extremely important that any remaining cinders from the barbecues are extinguished and removed from the beach and promenade areas. Do not place them in the beach bins as they are not fit for this purpose. Do not bury them as this is a danger to other beach users.

Disposable and gas BBQs are not permitted.

The use of generators is not permitted without prior permission or a permit from Thanet District Council’s Events team (details at the end of the page).

Camping or the erection of any structure (including but not exclusive to vehicles, tents, yurts, marquees and any other temporary building) being used to occupy land is not permitted on beaches, promenades, clifftops, nearby green spaces, car parks and surrounding areas of the public realm without prior consent of the council.

Overnight parking is not permitted for any reason without prior consent of the council at any of the following locations along our coast: on green spaces above or next to bays, promenades, beaches, or in our beach car parks (paid or unpaid). This applies to camper vans and caravans, motorhomes, marquees, tents and cars with trailer tents.

Vehicles may not be parked or driven on the promenades or beaches, unless permission has been granted by the council.

This applies to cars, vans, lorries, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, segways and any other motorised vehicles (with the exception of mobility scooters and electric bicycles).

No deliveries to concessions after 10am.

No obstruction may be caused at any time to the promenade or barriers by vehicles or any other structure or object, which impedes access by emergency services or council vehicles.

At any time of year between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and from 1 May to 30 September inclusive between the hours of 10am and 6pm, a person shall not ride any cycle on any of the promenades where localised signage requires you to dismount.

You must adhere to the signs which vary around the coast. This is for the purposes of health and safety and the enjoyment of others in busy areas.

A cycle means a bicycle, a tricycle or a cycle having four or more wheels, including one power-assisted by electrical (or other means not being in any case a motorcycle or motor vehicle.)

Localised rules around permitted cycling along proms may be changed seasonally as required for events, or under exceptional circumstances. Look for the signage on the promenade, adjacent to facilities and at entry to the beaches and bays for instructions and adhere to dismount, slow signs and other local requirements.

Horses and donkeys are not permitted between 1 May and 30 September, between the hours of 9am and 7pm.

It is prohibited at any time in a race or so as to cause danger or annoyance to any persons using the seashore or foreshore to break-in any horse.

It is prohibited at any time, all year round, within Pegwell Bay (Sandwich & Pegwell National Nature Reserve).

Always avoid getting close to the summer bird breeding grounds and main winter roosts on the shingle beaches between Minnis Bay and Reculver.

Riders are reminded:

• to clear up the beach / promenade / slipway after the ride
• when leaving the beach please use the relevant slipways, avoiding the main promenade areas at all times
• to not gallop or race and show due consideration to other beach/promenade users at all times

Public entertainment including lectures, speeches, sermons, live music, busking and other types of entertainment / performances / shows / sporting events, is not permitted, unless prior permission has been granted by the council as per our events policy.

Activities such as filming and photo shoots, intended to be held on the beach / coast need prior permission from the Kent Film Office (details at the end of the page).

Begging, touting, hawking and selling is not permitted anywhere on Thanet’s beaches, promenades and coast. This includes:

• begging or soliciting for money*
• advertising any article verbally or by the distribution of leaflets, flyers, circulars or advertisements of any kind
• flyposting and other fixed notices on railings, posts or other street furniture without prior permission from the council’s Beach and Coast team, and a fee may be chargeable for this. Notices must be taken down within an agreed period
• selling goods, products or services without prior permission of the council

*Begging or soliciting for money. The act of begging is deemed as either approaching people for money, or being stationary and asking for money, or positioned on the floor to invite the offer of money or goods.

No business or commercial operations are permitted except through licences by Thanet District Council.

Help keep the coast clean by leaving nothing but footprints. If you would like to join a beach clean or do an inland litter pick, details can be found on our website: Join a litter pick.

Urination, defecation, spitting or littering are not permitted.

Drinking alcohol in a public place, after being told not to. No person shall consume alcohol or have an open alcohol container in any public place after having been requested by an Authorised Officer or Police Constable to cease consumption or hand over the container. This provision does not apply to alcohol being consumed on licensed premises.

Ingesting, inhaling, injecting, smoking or otherwise using drugs or substances reasonably believed to be psychoactive substances.

Possessing or releasing any canister containing compressed gas is not permitted.

There is a Public Space Protection Order in place to cover dogs. Dogs are not allowed on many beaches from 1 May to 30 September, and are required to be on a lead on many others. Scan the QR code for more information on the times and locations where dogs are permitted. Please refer to the signage at the bay or visit our Dog Public Space Protection Order webpage for more information on the times and locations where dogs are permitted.

The Thanet coast is part of the North East Kent Marine Protected Area, which recognises the importance of its coastal habitats, marine and bird life.

A series of voluntary codes have been developed to help safeguard the area’s coastline and wildlife, whilst encouraging people to use the coast responsibly and safely. These can be found on Thanet Coast Project’s website and cover guidelines on the following:

• Seashore Code
• Bait Digging & Collecting Code
• Dog Walking Code
• Field Trip Code
• Horse Riding Code
• Marine Wildlife Watching Code
• Powercraft Activities Code
• Shellfish Harvesting and Fixed Netting Code
• Shore Angling Code
• Wind powered activities
• Seaweed Harvesting Code
• Fossil Code

Shellfish collection

Please look out for the signs along the coast, relating to the gathering of shellfish.

Metal detecting

Permission for metal detecting on the Thanet coast can be requested here: Metal Detecting – Thanet Coast.

Schools, clubs or groups should use the online form to let us know that they are planning a visit to the beach.

The Thanet Coast Project can assist with activities like Seashore Safaris or Scavenger Hunts. For more information, please submit school/group details on the notification form via our educational resources webpage.

• HM Coastguard: call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
• Kent Police: call 999
• Kent Police Marine Unit: call 01622 798565 (Marine Unit) or 01622 690690
• Maritime & Coastguard Agency: 0870 6006505 (infoline)
• Project Kraken / Borderforce – counter terrorism hotline: 0800 789321
• RNLI: 0800 328 0600
• Rural Task Force: 07980 978202

• Beach and Coast team: beaches-and-coast@thanet.gov.uk
• Events: Organise an event
• Litter picking and beach cleans
• Out of hours reporting: 01843 577000
• Kent Film Office

• Coastal Officers: Coastalprotection@thanet.gov.uk
• National Coastwatch Institute: 0300 111 1202 or info@nci.org.uk
• SWIMFO (bathing water quality)
• The National Water Safety Forum: 0870 7772171
• Tide Times
• Water & Barrier Users: Wateruser@thanet.gov.uk
• Your Leisure – Hiring beach huts

• Dead animals to be reported to streetcleansing@thanet.gov.uk
• Environment Agency: 08708 506 506 or enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
• Kent Police Rural & Environmental Crime: 01622 654007
• Kent Wildlife Trust: 01622 662012 or info@kentwildlife.org.uk
• Natural England: 0845 600 3078 enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
• RSPB: 01273 775333
• Thanet Coast Project: 01843 577672 or thanet.coast@thanet.gov.uk

A Water User Group is available to those who would like access boat launching facilities, slipways and moorings for sailing boats and other crafts. Thanet boasts a number of beaches and bays where water activities are permitted including: fishing, jet skiing, sailing, speed boats and water skiing.

For an annual fee, members of the water user group gain access to our designated facilities for permitted launching. Fees will change annually as part of the Council’s fees and charges process. For 2024 the fee is £122. No replacement key fee from April 24/25- members who lose their key must re-register and pay full fee of £122 again

Register at thanet.gov.uk/water-users
For enquiries, contact: wateruser@thanet.gov.uk

On signing up to our water user group you agree to abiding by the Council’s rules and regulations. Any breach of these will result in your water user group membership being terminated, with no refund. You will also face the same financial penalty as any breach of our rules incurs under the PSPO

Examples of breaches these penalties will apply to include:

• The copying of issued barrier keys
• Leaving barriers open for non-group members to access
• Launching of craft that is not permitted at a particular site
• The use of craft in a manner that poses a risk to the safety of people or wildlife
• The use of craft in a manner that has the potential to cause harassment, alarm and distress to any other beach or coast users, or residents

We require all PWCs/jet skis to ensure the following:

• Not remove the silencers from their machines or carry out any other modifications to the exhaust system
• Display the unique registration number for PWC
• Be over the age of 17
• On launching make sure to stay away from the beaches and bathing waters, other coast users and our nature reserves around the coast. You must not disturb any coastal
• wildlife by getting too close
• Desirable:
• Hold the PWC proficiency qualification which is a one-off, one day course costing around £160

Sites designated for Personal Powered Water Crafts (PWCS including jet skis)

WCs may launch from the clubs/concessions listed below:

• Birchington
• Beresford Gap, Birchington
• Launching facilities are not part of the water user group. Launching facilities for speed boats, jet skis and waterskiing are designated for members of the Beresford Water Ski
• Club only. Please contact Leigh Flockhart at leighflockhart@hotmail.com or 07808 232011. *
• Cliftonville
• Palm Bay/Hodge’s Gap, Cliftonville
• Launching facilities are not part of the water user group. Launching for PWC (jet ski, jet bikes, wet bikes only) are operated by Jet Ski World (cafe/showers/ toilets). Fees
• apply, contact Jet Ski World on 01843 231703.
• Foreness club offer a jet ski membership as an add on to those with a boat membership. You cannot obtain a jet ski membership on its own.
Other rules apply.
• Ramsgate
• Ramsgate Harbour
• Launching facilities at Ramsgate Harbour are not part of the water user group. Launching and mooring fees apply. Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk

Launching permitted for fishing boats, speed boats and water skiing

• Broadstairs
• Viking Bay, Broadstairs
• Launching permitted for sail craft and fishing boats. Moorings available – fees apply
• Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.ukRamsgate®
• Ramsgate Harbour
• Launching facilities at Ramsgate Harbour are not part of the water user group. Launching and mooring fees apply.
• Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk

Sites designated for fishing boats

• Birchington
• Minnis Bay, Birchington
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft.
• Westgate
• West Bay, Westgate (western slipway)
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. Max 14ft, Max 20HP. Hand launching only during summer months 1 June to 30 September.
• West Bay, Westgate (eastern slipway – by kiosk and beach huts)
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. No launching during summer months 1 June to 30 September.
• St Mildred’s Bay, Westgate
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. No launching permitted between 9am and 6pm during summer months 1 June to 30 September.
• Margate
• Margate (front) Harbour
• Launching permitted for sail craft and fishing boats. Moorings available – fees apply.
• Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk
• Margate (rear) Harbour
• Launching permitted for sail craft, fishing boats and speed boats.
• Cliftonville
• Foreness Bay, Cliftonville

Sites designated for sail craft

• Birchington
• Minnis Bay, Birchington
• Launching permitted for sail craft.
• Westgate *
• West Bay, Westgate (western slipway)
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. Max 14ft, Max 20HP. Hand launching only during summer months 1 June to 30 September.
• West Bay, Westgate (eastern slipway – by kiosk and beach huts) –
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. No launching during summer months 1 June to 30 September:
• St Mildred’s Bay, Westgate
• Launching permitted for fishing boats and sail craft. No launching permitted between 9am and 6pm during summer months 1 June to 30 September.
• Margate
• Margate (front) Harbour
• Launching permitted for sail craft and fishing boats. Moorings available – fees apply.
• Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk
• Margate (rear) Harbour
• Launching permitted for sail craft, fishing boats and speed boats.
• Broadstairs
• Viking Bay, Broadstairs
• Launching permitted for sail craft and fishing boats. Moorings available – fees apply.
• Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk
• Ramsgate
• Ramsgate Harbour
• Launching facilities at Ramsgate Harbour are not part of the water user group. Launching and mooring fees apply.
  Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk

Sites designated for speed boats

• Birchington
• Beresford Gap, Birchington
• Launching facilities are not part of the water user group. Launching facilities for speed boats, jet skis and waterskiing are designated for members of the Beresford Water Ski Club only. Please contact Leigh Flockhart at leighflockhart@hotmail.com or 07808 232011.
• Westbrook
• Westbrook/Barnes Car Park
• Launching permitted for speed boats and water kling.
• Margate
• Margate (rear) Harbour
• Launching permitted for sail craft, fishing boats and speed boats.
• Cliftonville
• Foreness Bay, Cliftonville
• Launching permitted for fishing boats, speed boats and water skiing
• Ramsgate
• Ramsgate Harbour
• Launching facilities at Ramsgate Harbour are not part of the water user group.
• Launching and mooring fees apply. Contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk

Sites designated for water skiing

• Birchington
• Beresford Gap, Birchington
• Launching facilities are not part of the water user group. Launching facilities for speed boats, jet skis and waterskiing are designated for members of the Beresford Water Ski Club only– Please contact Leigh Flockhart at leighflockhart@hotmail.com or 07808 232011
• Westbrook
• Westbrook/Barnes Car Park

Launching permitted for speed boats and water skiing

• Cliftonville
• Foreness Bay, Cliftonville
• Launching permitted for fishing boats, speed boats and water skiing

Jet skis / PWC may only launch from the clubs/concessions listed below.

All users must have insurance and RYA certification.

Always use designated launch sites and do not enter restricted areas.

Jet skis / PWC cannot be launched anywhere in Ramsgate.

Beresford Water Ski Club, Birchington Beresford Gap

Launching facilities for speed boats, jet skis and waterskiing are designated for members of the Beresford Water Ski Club only. Launching facilities are not part of the membership of the council’s Water User Group. Contact: Leigh Flockhart at leighflockhart@hotmail.com or 07808 232011

Jet Ski World, Cliftonville, Palm Bay / Hodge’s Gap

Jet Ski World operates launch sites for jet skis, jet bikes, wet bikes only. A café, showers, toilets are also available. Fees apply.

Launching facilities are not part of the membership of the council’s Water User Group. Contact: Jet Ski World on 07902 189166

Foreness Water Ski and Boat Club, Cliftonville, Palm Bay

The club is predominantly a boat club but does have some availability for jet ski use. This is subject to referral and is at the director’s discretion.

Jet ski membership is available as an add on to people with a boat membership. You cannot obtain a jet ski membership on its own.

Foreness is a designated high speed waterski area. Jet skis must not exceed 8 mph within the waterski area unless they are pulling a skier or wakeboarder with an observer on board. Insurance and RYA certification is required.

Fees apply.

Contact: Foreness Water Ski & Boat Club on 01843 299556 or 07853 936565

Ramsgate Marina, Ramsgate Harbour

Mooring facilities at Ramsgate Harbour are not part of the membership of the council’s Water User Group.

Mooring fees apply.

Contact: The Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or portoframsgate@thanet.gov.uk

Make sure that jet skis / PWC do not enter or dock at bathing beaches/swim zones marked by buoys and/or red/yellow flags. Stay at least 300 meters from the shore, unless mooring, and keep away from other coastal users.

• Stay 50 metres away from structures and vessels including paddle boarders, kayaks and dinghies.
• Keep your distance from other vessels, and check behind you when you turn, to avoid collisions.

• Stay away from coastal wildlife anywhere on the seashore, to avoid disturbance.
• If you encounter birds or marine mammals (seals, dolphins etc), slow down and give them a wide berth.
• When you pass wildlife, maintain a steady direction and a ‘slow no wake’ speed.
• Never throw away rubbish or contaminates at sea.
• Do not beach on sandbanks where there are seals.
• Avoid shallow areas to avoid damaging the chalk seabed.
• Do not approach roosting or nesting birds.
• Stay within the buoyed designated area In the Pegwell and Sandwich nature reserves. Stay away from wildlife.

Water User Group members must have valid third party marine liability insurance with a minimum of £5 million cover.

Water User Group members must have completed the Royal Yacht Association proficiency qualification. This is a one-off, one day course costing around £160.

Display the unique registration number for Personal Water Craft in a visible place on your craft, above the water line: www.datatag.co.uk/

Do not remove the silencers from jet skis or carry out any other modifications to the exhaust system.

Craft must not exceed 8 knots inshore (300 metres)

Jet skis / PWC are only allowed access to the water between sunrise and sunset.

Jet ski / PWC users must be over the age of 16, or over the age of 12 if supervised by an RYA qualified operator over the age of 16.

Never operate a jet ski if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Report any vandalism, antisocial behaviour or other foul play to your club / concession. You can also report it to the Beach and Coast Team on 01843 577000, HM Coastguard or the Police, as appropriate.

In an emergency contact the HM Coastguard on 999 or channel 16 on a VHF radio.

• Observe the ‘Rules of the Road’ (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972; ‘COLREGs’)
• Understand and follow the RNLI Sea Safety Guidelines and the RYA Safety Guidelines for your activity.
  • RNLI Safety
  • RNLI Beach Safety
  • RYA Regulations
  • RYA Personal Watercraft

• HM Coastguard call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
• Kent Police 999
• Kent Police Marine Unit – 01622 798565 or Marines Section – Coldharbour@kent.pnn.police.uk (legislation)
• Maritime & Coastguard Agency – 0870 6006505 (infoline)
• Project Kraken / Borderforce – counter terrorism hotline — 0800 789321
• Rural Task Force 07980 978202

• Dead animals to be reported to streetcleansing@thanet.gov.uk
• Environment Agency – 08708 506 506 or enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
• Kent Police Rural & Environmental Crime – 01622 654007 andy.small@kent.pnn.police.uk
• Natural England – 0845 600 3078 enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
• RSPB – 01273 775333 or alison.giacomelli@rspb.org.uk
• Thanet Coast Project – 01843 577672 or thanet.coast@thanet.gov.uk
• Bird Wise East Kent – birdwise@thanet.gov.uk
• Kent Wildlife Trust – 01622 662012 or info@kentwildlife.org.uk Links to Pegwell and Sandwich webpage which has rules about accessing the Stour Estuary via watercraft including speed limits – Sandwich and Pegwell Bay | Kent Wildlife Trust
• The Sandwich Haven: The River Stour – Sandwich Port and Haven | Cinque Port of Sandwich
• Watching Seals Safely includes a poster on watching seals safely from motorized watercraft – How to watch seals safely | Kent Wildlife Trust
• Info on the impact of disturbance for coastal birds and how to avoid it – Bird disturbance at our coastal reserves | Kent Wildlife Trust
• RNLI video on how to stay safe on your Personal Water Craft