The three Kent beaches which have lost their Blue Flag awards

Mary Harris
·3-min read
Beachgoers soak up the sunshine at Margate Main Sands
-Credit: (Image: Frank Leppard/KentLive)


Three beaches in Kent have been stripped of their markers of great water quality. Nine beaches in Kent had Blue Flags last year, which are international awards given to beaches which are properly-managed with the highest quality of water along with having education programmes in place and other criteria.

But this year, that prestigious clutch of awards for Kent's seaside gems, which people from within the county and visitors love so much, has slipped to six beaches for 2024.

That means three beaches have been deemed not of a high enough standard, across many criteria, to continue to hold the prestigious Blue Flags. Tankerton, Sheerness Beach, Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Minnis Bay, St Mildred's have again this year been granted the flag.

This means they have met 33 individual targets across four categories: environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, and safety and services. Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive.

Read more: The gorgeous Kent beach named among Britain’s greatest that Londoners haven't discovered yet

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But losing their Blue Flag Awards are Margate Main Sands; Stone Bay in Broadstairs; and Minster Leas Beach, near Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey.

Thanet District Council, which has the beach at Margate and Stone Bay in its district, said in a statement (in full below) that along with Southern Water and the Environment Agency, it was "reviewing the cause of this water quality result".

However, this loss of Blue Flags does not mean the coastal gems are not still well worth a visit. All three beaches have retained their prestigious Seaside Awards, which are presented by Keep Britain Today to the best beaches in England.

These awards are described as a symbol of quality which ensures "visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed coastal stretch".

The beautiful beach at Minster
The beautiful beach at Minster -Credit:smartin69/Getty Images/iStockphoto

In case you are wondering what is the precise difference between the Blue Flag Award and the Seaside Award, it's quite simple. The Blue Flag is only presented to beaches with water which has achieved the "highest classification", as set by the EU Batching Water directive. And they have an environmental education programme.

Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Margate Main Sands and Stone Bay are in Thanet. The district council gave KentLive this statement: "In November 2023, Defra published its annual water quality results. The water quality at both Margate Main Sands and Stone Bay in Broadstairs had decreased from Excellent to Good."

"These classifications are based on water samples taken from 2019 through to 2023. Water quality readings are taken by the Environment Agency at bathing beaches in England weekly throughout the summer (May to September)."

"These assessments measure current water quality. The annual ratings are based on measurements taken over a period of up to four years. Council officers, in partnership with Southern Water and the Environment Agency, are reviewing the cause of this water quality result. We are committed to improving or maintaining bathing water quality at all of our bays."

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