Seaside flags flying over Sheppey
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
All three of Sheppey’s beaches at Sheerness, Minster and Leysdown are now flying Seaside Awards flags.
Sheerness has also been allowed to fly the prestigious Blue Flag for its water quality.
Minster missed out on the Blue Flag because the RNLI was unable to find enough lifeguards to patrol its beach along The Leas.
Leysdown failed the Blue Flag criteria because of sewage overflow spills last summer.
The borough’s new mayor Cllr Derek Carnell (Swale Independents Alliance, Kemsley) and his wife Pat helped the council’s seafront manager Ian Arnell raise the flags at short but windy ceremonies at each beach on Wednesday (May 27).
Cllr Carnell said afterwards: “I didn’t realise how hard it was to put a flag up.”
He praised staff keeping the beaches clean and tidy but added: “Unfortunately, there are some reasons why aren’t always clean and tidy.”
It was a reference to a number of laboratory phials which have been found along the beaches of Minster, Eastchurch, Warden and Leysdown lately.
Mr Arnell said: “The awards help put Sheppey on the map. They represent a daily cleaning regime, facilities and services, environmental awareness and excellent water quality.
“The work which goes on along our seafronts is often overlooked. These awards show how important our daily work is.”
He added: “Our volunteers are an integral part of our beaches.”
Mr Arnell also paid a special mention to his own team of beach cleaners.
He said: “Having been a beach cleaner myself, I am fully aware of the hard work done by a small, dedicated team out daily in all weathers. On the surface, it looks like an ideal job. And in many ways, it is, being out in the open with the sun shining and seeing the efforts of your job.
“But what many people don’t realise is that they are out in all weathers, constantly having to pick up dog mess and having to return to areas they have just cleaned only to find them spoilt again. That can be demoralising.
“Having said that, most beach cleaners stay in the job for years and years. I know they are the lowest grade workers in the council but in my mind they are the most loyal and hard-working. The beach just draws you back.”
One of his team also recently helped save a life.
Peter Jones stopped to help a man who had collapsed after clutching his chest on the seafront beachfront. He used his first aid training, and 30 years of experience to perform CPR for 10 minutes until paramedics arrived.
He said: "I cleared his airway and found no breathing or pulse. I made sure somebody was ready to direct the ambulance and then started CPR.”
Paramedics used a defibrillator and brought the man back to consciousness with the third shock.
Peter added: “Naturally, I was a bit shaken but, in the moment, I remembered my training and acted swiftly. I was over the moon to hear later that he was not only in a stable condition but was talking and spending time with his family.”
Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab, Sheerness), who chairs Swale council’s environment and climate change committee, said: “We are proud these beaches have once again received these prestigious awards, which is a testament to the hard work of our officers and dedicated volunteers.
“The awards confirm what we already knew; that we have some of the best beaches in the UK right here on the Isle of Sheppey.”
She added: “We work closely with the RNLI to make sure lifeguards are on duty at the busy beaches of Sheerness and Leysdown to make sure people can enjoy their visits safely.
“But we also need your help to make sure our beaches stay as beautiful and amazing as they are. Please take home any litter with you and treat our public beaches with care and respect.”
Blue Flag beaches have water which meets the highest classification set by the EU Bathing Water Directive.
Seaside Awards beaches must be clean, safe, provide information boards displaying details of local eco systems and celebrate the quality and diversity of the coast. The water must also be of “sufficient” standard.
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