Oh we do like to be beside the Thanet seaside

Keep Britain Tidy has revealed that Thanet has increased its number of award winning beaches by 40%, going from 10 in 2018 to 14 in 2019.

• 14 of Thanet’s beaches named amongst the country’s very best
• 1 x Blue Flag Beach every 2.7 miles!

The national jury has awarded the following beaches in Thanet a 2019 Award:

7 International Blue Flags

• Minnis Bay
• West Bay
• St Mildreds
• Botany Bay
• Margate Main Sands
• Stone Bay
• Westbrook Bay (new for 2019)

14 Seaside Awards

• Dumpton Gap (new for 2019)
• Joss Bay
• Louisa Bay (new for 2019)
• Ramsgate Main Sands
• Ramsgate Western Undercliff (new for 2019)
• Walpole Bay (new for 2019)
• Viking Bay

All our Blue Flag beaches were also successful in their bid for a Seaside Award. This means that in total Thanet has 21 awards – more than any other District Council in the country.

Gavin Waite, Director of Operational and Commercial Services at Thanet District Council said: “Our 19 miles of stunning coastline provide a fantastic place for both residents and visitors to enjoy. We are immensely proud to have achieved so many prestigious awards for our sandy beaches, the most in the South East. It’s recognition of all the hard work put in by officers, various agencies, voluntary groups and local people to protect our beaches and ensure they remain world class.

“These awards continue to put Thanet on the map as a quality visitor destination and are a symbol to people that the beach and facilities live up to the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, access and environmental management.”

This year, Keep Britain Tidy presented 208 awards to England’s very best beaches, including 71 international Blue Flags and 137 Seaside Awards, with 52 beaches achieving both awards. What unites these beaches is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said:

“The success of the 156 beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.

“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”

To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches must comply with a number of criteria covering environmental education and information, excellent water quality, environmental management, safety and services. For a Seaside Award beaches must achieve the highest standards of management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality.

Thanet District Council encourages people to take part in the national #2minutebeachclean campaign and has clean-up stations at beaches across the district. Simply clearing up the small area you’ve spent time on really helps reduce the amount of litter that ends up on our beaches and in the ocean.