News

A Shepway beach will again be able to fly the flag this year.

A Quality Coast Award has been awarded to Dymchurch for the second time and will be flying the distinctive yellow, blue and green flag after it met strict criteria laid down by ENCAMS, the environmental charity behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

The award shows that the beach is properly managed, that there facilities nearby like toilets and a car park, that the beach is regularly cleaned and bins emptied, dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September and that results from water testing are displayed.

Dymchurch flew the flag in 2007 – the first year the Quality Coast Award was introduced. The successful application to renew the award this year was made by Shepway Council, which worked closely with Dymchurch Parish Council to ensure that the beach could prove it came up to the mark.

Cllr Alan North, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said it as great news for a great beach.

“This is very good news. Dymchurch Parish Council and its beach management team have put a considerable amount of effort in over the years to ensure that local people and visitors have safe and happy days on the beach. It’s good to see that their efforts have been recognised.”

Cllr Tom Gibbs, Chairman of Dymchurch Parish Council, said: “I am very pleased that we have been awarded the flag again this year. It proves that we can be consistent and maintain our high standards.”