Kitesurfers banned from Pegwell Bay nature reserve after agreement not renewed

By Local Democracy Reporters Daniel Esson & Gabriel Morris

Kitesurfers say they have been left “devastated” after being banned from a coastal Thanet beauty spot they had used for more than 20 years due to the risk of disturbing birds.

An agreement between Natural England, Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) and the watersport enthusiasts previously permitted the activity at Pegwell Bay.

But that has ended, meaning kitesurfers could now be hit with a £100 fixed penalty notice from Thanet District Council (TDC) as they would be in breach of the authority’s Beaches Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

Pegwell Bay is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an internationally important National Nature Reserve, which was opened by Sir David Attenborough in 1999.

Its mudflats and salt marshes are home to rare and endangered birds which are in decline. Seals also visit the bay.

Kent Wildlife Trust says these species are disturbed by activities like jet skiing, paddle boarding and kitesurfing.

Graeme Rolbiecki (pictured), who runs Kite Pirates at Pegwell Bay, said that since the “draconian” ban has been enforced, his training school’s revenue has been slashed by 70%.

“People have kited here for as long as kiting’s been around,” he said. “The sport’s about 30 years old and as soon as they realised what this place delivers, this became a hotspot for it.”

Mr Rolbiecki says the prevailing southwesterly wind makes Pegwell Bay the perfect location for the activity, which involves riding on a surfboard whilst holding onto a large power kite.

“I don’t think there would be a better place to teach kitesurfing if you scoured the whole UK,” he said. “You’ve got this beautiful shallow beach that runs off for about half a mile which just makes it ideal for teaching.”

A voluntary agreement had been in place between Natural England and the wildlife trust, allowing the watersport to continue in a restricted area of Pegwell Bay.

However, after KWT raised concerns about the impact on wildlife in recent years, the agreement was not renewed when it came to an end in November last year.

The district council informed Mr Rolbiecki that his school’s licence to teach at Pegwell Bay had been revoked.

Mr Rolbiecki said: “This year it’s meant the revenue for the school has been slashed by about 70%. I’ve had to go back to my other job, scaffolding. It’s just become a hobby job for this summer, with a view to hopefully potentially getting this thing sorted out and getting the school back on track hopefully in April.

“It’s devastating – to me personally, the students – and the greater kitesurfing community has suffered.”

Stefano Biagina (pictured), a kitesurfer from Whitstable, said the agreement was withdrawn without any consultation.

“We were instantly told that if we were to kitesurf here we would fall foul of the PSPO,” he said. “The schools had a formal set-up but they didn’t operate in the winter and that’s because this site was used in the winter by a number of migrating birds.”

A KWT report explains that an agreement was made with kitesurfing schools to teach at the bay in 2004.

The charity’s report says that in 2022, they received 25 reports of violations of the kitesurfing agreement. The following year, this figure rose to 60.

KWT says the agreement stipulates that kitesurfing is only permissible in the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay area “under exceptional circumstances, when other designated kite surfing sites at Ramsgate, Westbrook and Minnis Bay are unsuitable due to offshore wind direction at these sites”.

But Mr Rolbiecki says it is only possible to use those sites when the prevailing wind comes from the north, west, or east – and that is only about 25% of the time in summer.

There are only a handful of instances recorded – less than five a year and none this year – where the agreement was violated specifically by disturbing birds. The majority of breaches were kitesurfers launching from Pegwell Bay during the winter season.

However, the reserve is an internationally important site for wildlife, most notably for coastal and wetland birds. There has been a decline in the numbers of several of the important bird species over the last few years and it is hoped by reducing disturbances, numbers will improve.

A KWT spokesman said: “Pegwell Bay is home to rare and endangered coastal and wetland birds which are in decline

“These species are impacted by disturbances from recreational activities such as jet skiing, paddle boarding and kitesurfing.

“To protect the valuable feeding and resting areas within the intertidal area of the bay, many activities, such as walking, with or without a dog, horse riding and the launching of watercraft are already restricted.

“Natural England, the government’s conservation advisors, have not consented to kitesurfing within the boundaries of the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

“Without consent, the owners and managers of the National Nature Reserve should not allow these activities to be carried out.

“For this reason, a voluntary agreement which allowed kitesurfing under very specific circumstances has not been renewed.

“This brings kitesurfing in line with other recreational activities which aren’t permitted to launch from within the National Nature Reserve.

“Kent Wildlife Trust’s primary focus surrounds ensuring the area remains a haven for wildlife and will continue to work with Thanet District Council, Natural England and other stakeholders to keep nature at the forefront of the decision-making process.”

A TDC spokesperson said: “A voluntary agreement was previously in place between Natural England and Kent Wildlife Trust, which allowed kitesurfing at Pegwell Bay. The agreement came to an end in November 2023, meaning that kitesurfing became a prohibited activity.

“Thanet District Council has a duty to enforce the SSSI rules and does so through the Beach and Coast Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). The PSPO covers the entire Thanet coastline and prohibits any activity that disturbs wildlife.”