The Friends of Botany Bay CIC group has written to Southern Water to request the company continues to support beach cleaning this year – although at a reduced level from 2023.
Councillor Barry Manners is a director of the community interest company, raising money to employ a small, dedicated team of part time cleaners for beaches from Joss Bay to Palm Bay.
He said: “The cleanliness of these beaches has been transformed for the better in recent years – together with local volunteers and Thanet council’s Summer cleaners we have removed tonnes of historic waste – much of it sewage related – from Thanet’s beaches.
“I’m intensely conscious of the need to maintain this progress but also mindful that we cannot rely on private companies to do so indefinitely. We’ve therefore submitted a plan for 386 hours of paid beach cleaning to be supported financially by Southern Water in 2024/25, reduced from 700 hours in 2023/4.”
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay said: “Southern Water owe it to all of us to play a part here. I recognise there have been encouraging signs for long overdue improvements to be made to their day to day operations, but long neglected infrastructure upgrades will take years to deliver the results we all want to see.
“It’s historically been left to the public purse and voluntary groups like the Friends of Botany Bay to clear up the beaches after Southern Water discharges and (litter left by) some irresponsible members of the public. I do hope and expect to see their continued support – as I also expect to see a substantial reduction in sewage and other discharges as the promised infrastructure improvements at Southern Water are realised.”
In addition to requesting support from Southern Water the Friends of Botany Bay will host an annual fundraising dinner in April to support other local initiatives, including the proposed community fruit garden in Northdown and improvements to green spaces in Cliftonville East to promote biodiversity.
Cllr Alan Munns, who represents the Kingsgate Ward -which includes Joss Bay and Kingsgate Bay – echoed the MP’s sentiment: “We should not rely on Southern Water to clean our beaches, of course not.
“But Southern Water owe a huge debt to the people of Thanet who have stepped up and carried the load for their shortcomings in recent years. And we are by no means out of the woods yet – we still see discharges along the North Kent coast that impact our beaches.”
Cllr Manners added: “I had a very constructive meeting with Southern Water’s stakeholder manager just before Christmas. I believe they are committed to improving their performance and I hope we can work together to ensure our beaches remain pristine for local residents and the visitors who are so important to Thanet’s economy.”
Southern Water first help fund a cleaner with the group in November 2021. The water company has not responded to a request for comment.
