Category: Blog

Tendring District Council Beach Patrol members with Councillor Alex Porter holding a Blue Flag at Dovercourt Bay
Six beaches in Tendring have been handed prestigious awards by Keep Britain Tidy – including two of the top Blue Flags.

Beaches at Brightlingsea, Dovercourt Bay, Harwich, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Martello Bay in Clacton have all been given Seaside Awards in recognition of their quality.

In addition the beaches at Dovercourt Bay and Brightlingsea kept their prestigious Blue Flag status.

Walton’s Albion Beach, which previously held a Blue Flag award, was not entered this year as coastal works have led to a temporary drop in water quality from ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ – but Tendring District Council (TDC) plans to re-enter the beach next year once works are completed. All other Tendring seafronts have kept their accreditation from 2021.

Seaside Award beaches have amenities at a high standard where they are provided, and a Blue Flag is an even higher globally recognised accreditation for quality beaches, taking into account factors such as water quality and availability of nearby facilities.

Alex Porter, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said the awards recognised the beauty and quality of seafronts around the district.

“Our Essex Sunshine Coast around Tendring is beautiful and a fabulous place for residents, visitors and the whole tourism industry,” Councillor Porter said.

“This is why we invest so much of our time, effort and indeed money into them, ranging from our Beach Patrol service in the high season, regular upgrades to seafronts, or creating and protecting them with new beaches and cliff stabilisation works.

“Having Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are a great advert for the Essex Sunshine Coast, and as always it must be recognised that it is not easy to keep this status; that is why we decided not to enter Walton this year, but will look to do so – and a new beach in Clacton – next year should the conditions allow.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “The success of these beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our blue spaces – from beach managers and volunteers to local residents and businesses. The huge commitment needed to maintain marvellous beaches worthy of these awards cannot be underestimated.

“People who visit a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.”

Britain’s top aerial display team has been confirmed as part of a bumper line-up for this year’s Clacton Airshow – thought to be the biggest-ever.

Alex Porter, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism at Tendring District Council (TDC), which stages Clacton Airshow, said the 2022 event was truly shaping up to be one of the best.
“We have an incredible line-up for this year’s Clacton Airshow, both in breadth and depth, which after a two-year enforced hiatus due to Covid-19 is exactly what we all need,” Cllr Porter said.
“Headlining the event will be the world-renowned Red Arrows, which are always a huge draw to aviation fans and general public alike – and we hope everyone gives them a warm welcome.”

Other flights revealed to be on the programme include the Pitts Special, an exciting aerobatic display flown in biplanes guaranteed to thrill the crowds on both days with closing speeds approaching 400mph, and the Slingsby T67 Firefly – both firm favourites at the Clacton Airshow.

Once again full commentary will be provided at the event by Radio Airshow from BBC Essex.

Businesses are still able to sponsor the event, with local construction firm Rose Builders already putting their support behind the Airshow.

The Tour Series will see the UK’s leading men’s and women’s riders head to Tendring for round five of the 2022 series next month.

All seven rounds of the event will be available to watch in full and for free on the event’s website and YouTube channel.

Extensive race day coverage will be available on the series’ digital platforms, with highlights of the series following the night after each round on ITV4 at 7pm.

Reigning champions Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling and CAMS – Basso, former winners WiV SunGod, and fledgling New Zealand team Global 6 Cycling will be among the 26 teams competing.

Guisborough will host the opener once again on May 2 with Sunderland returning for a second year running on May 10.

Scotland will host two rounds in Galashiels and Stranraer on May 4 and 12 before Britain’s best teams and riders head to the seaside for the series’ first-ever visit to Clacton on May 19.

Clacton will become only the third venue – after Colchester and Stoke-on-Trent – to have hosted the Tour of Britain, Women’s Tour and Tour Series.

The round will start and finish in sight of the sea on Pier Avenue.

It will pass through the town centre before running alongside the town’s big wheel, pavilion and pier.

Not only will fans get to see the action multiple times during the hour-long races, but the 1.4km circuit will offer two sightings per lap to anybody watching on from the town square.

The series will visit then London on May 21 before a spectacular grand final on May 24.

Mick Bennett, Tour Series race director, previously aid: “We love being beside the seaside so bring on the Clacton round of this year’s Tour Series.

“It’s going to be another day of thrilling, unpredicted and engaging sporting action, all available to enjoy for free.

“Tendring Council are among the leading supporters of cycling in the UK and their contribution to supporting family-friendly, free-to-watch events deserves a lot of praise.”

Commemorative coins commissioned by the council can be purchased to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Available to buy for £1 each, the limited edition coins – bearing the civic crest of Tendring District Council (TDC) – will serve as a memento for years to come of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign.

Meanwhile those planning a Jubilee celebration event in the district can apply now for an event pack to help organise their festivities.

Organisers can claim up to two free packs per event – with the potential for more upon request – with each pack including invites, posters, recipe and game ideas and other templates.

Jeff Bray, TDC Chairman, said he would love to see the whole of Tendring get involved in celebrating Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

“We hope these commemorative coins will be an affordable keepsake for generations to come, marking this historic year,” Councillor Bray said.

“Meanwhile these event packs will allow communities to mark the occasion now, and it would be fantastic to see street parties, picnics in local parks and other events held throughout the year to celebrate.

“Don’t forget to share details of your jubilee events with us too!”

The commemorative coins can be purchased from TDC’s leisure centres in Clacton, Dovercourt and Walton-on-the-Naze, and the Visitor Information Centre at Clacton Town Hall, and are expected to go on sale from 20 April – while the event packs will be available from the same date.

Apply for a pack online on the council’s Platinum Jubilee web page. Residents can buy up to six coins each.

Families looking to enjoy the Essex Sunshine Coast this season can benefit from a series of free beach libraries.

Run by a number of different community groups around the district, the sites contain fun items such as buckets and spades for groups to use for the day.

As well as ensuring the toys are not just used once, making them more environmentally friendly, they can also be useful for families on low incomes.

Visitors who do buy new toys but are not likely to use them again for a while are encouraged to donate them at the end of their stay to the libraries, provided they are in good condition.

Alex Porter, Tendring District Council (TDC) Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, thanked the groups who were running the beach libraries.

“We are really keen to support these initiatives – which are best run by volunteers – as a way of making our beautiful beaches more accessible to all,” Councillor Porter said.

“By making sure buckets, spades and other beach toys are re-used, and don’t spend the rest of the year languishing in the boot of a car, we can all do our bit to reduce the amount of plastic items being created.

“They can also be a godsend for families taking an affordable day out to our coastline who can instead spend their disposable income on ice creams for their little ones rather than a use-once toy.”

Beach libraries can currently be found in various locations along the seafront at Clacton, Walton-on-the-Naze and Dovercourt; anyone interested in setting up a new library can email seafronts@tendringdc.gov.uk to explore options.

A proposal has been set out to bring an elite professional cycling event to Clacton later this Spring.

Tendring District Council (TDC) is considering plans to host a round of the Tour Series within the town centre in May.

The Tour Series is an evening event which sees pro cycling teams take on a ‘criterium’, racing on closed circuit laps around town and city centres. There is both a men’s and women’s event, with fun for all the family during the day building up to the racing action.

A recommendation to host the Tour Series, and put £80,000 towards staging the event, will go before Cabinet on Friday (25 March) as part of the Corporate Investment Panel work.

Alex Porter, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said he would be recommending the event to his colleagues for approval.

“Tendring District Council has a long history of hosting elite cycle events, and the Tour Series is fantastic for both spectators and local businesses,” Councillor Porter said.

“The compact format means spectators can see the action unfold before them each lap, across both the women’s and men’s races, while town centre businesses will benefit from crowds well into the evening.

“This is such a great opportunity to showcase Clacton and we’re hoping businesses will really gear up with window displays and offers to welcome visitors – and draw them back for future visits – hence why I am recommending this to my Cabinet colleagues for approval.”

If approved by Cabinet the council will write to town centre businesses with further information on how they can get involved in the event.

TDC has previously hosted elite cycle event stages, including three stages of the Women’s Tour (including the inaugural tour) and the Tour of Britain.

For the latest Council news visit www.tendringdc.gov.uk