The Kent coast has always been a draw for the Village News
staff on their days off, in particular the coast around Broadstairs; plenty of
beaches, loads of sand. Not necessarily the main beach - Viking Bay - though
which, for the last five years at least, has received only a “Mandatory” for
water quality which means that the water quality met only the minimum standard
based on a European Bathing Water Directive. Botany Bay and Joss Bay, up the
road, have, for the past five years always or usually respectively received a
Marine Conservation Society Recommended which means excellent water quality.
However, even these beaches have fallen foul of a sewage
discharge from two of Southern Water’s pumping stations on Monday.
Nine beaches are affected: Walpole Bay, Palm Bay, Botany
Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Joss Bay, Stone Bay, Viking Bay, Louisa Bay and Dumpton
Gap.
Thanet District Council have
erected signs advising beach-goers not to enter the area of beach below the
high water mark from the tide – which doesn’t leave much beach and, in some
places, no beach.
In a statement Southern Water
said, “A sewerage network cannot operate as a ‘closed system’, it must have in
place a stormwater release mechanism to safely get rid of excess water during
storms.”
This sewage issue is the more
surprising given that Botany Bay, Joss
Bay and Stone Bay all received a “prestigious” European Blue Flag for
2014. Which doesn’t say much for Blue Flags.
So we know where not to go
for our day trips this August don’t we readers?
In the meantime, if you want
to make sure that your destination beach doesn’t contain floating motions in
its waters, head to the Marine Conservation Society’s excellent Good Beach
Guide at www.goodbeachguide.co.uk.
This
is a free of charge guide which
can help you find a clean beach in the UK.
© www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk
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