Councillors with 2019 Seaside Award Flag

Magnificent Seven! Sandgate Beach Receives Seaside Award for Seventh Year Running

Keep Britain Tidy has today revealed the England’s best beaches with announcement of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2019 – and Sandgate is on the list for the SEVENTH year running!

This year environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 71 international Blue Flags and 137 Seaside Awards (12 more than last year). This includes the award to Sandgate beach, near Folkestone in Kent. Sandgate is the only beach in Folkestone and Hythe to win the Seaside Award, and one of only 11 in Kent. Learn more about Kent’s award winning beaches.

Sandgate beach has won the Seaside Award for 2019 – for the seventh year running. It joins the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away spots. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said:

“From environmental education for the local community and ensuring responsible beach use, to cleaning regimes and an increasing number of recycling facilities, it is a full-time commitment to create beaches worthy of the awards.

“Thanks to the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, visitors can be reassured their destination is cared for and they will be able to help maintain the high standards of these awards thanks to their environmental initiatives.”

Sandgate Councillor Tim Prater added:

“The Seaside Awards recognise the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, indicate that they meet the required standards for water quality.”

“Sandgate have received this award for the last seven years not just due to the quality of our beach, but also due to the hard work of a number of people in making sure everything is in place. Marjorie Findlay-Stone has been instrumental in our winning this award for so many years, as have a number of Councillors like Nabin Siwa and non-Councillors working as a team – thank you all.

“For Sandgate to win this award seven years running is magnificent. It’s also no mean feat: Sandgate is the only beach in Folkestone and Hythe to have received the award this year, and only one of 11 in Kent. It’s great news.”