Category: Media

Seven beaches in Tendring have been handed prestigious awards by Keep Britain Tidy – including four of the top Blue Flags for the first time in eight years.

Two new beaches along the Essex Sunshine Coast have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for 2023, at Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze’s Albion beach. Brightlingsea and Dovercourt Bay also retained their Blue Flag status. In addition Brightlingsea, Harwich, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze’s Albion and Naze beaches, and Martello Bay in Clacton have all been given Seaside Awards in recognition of their quality.

Frinton last held a Blue Flag in 2016, while Walton’s Albion Beach had previously held a Blue Flag award but was not entered by Tendring District Council (TDC) last year as coastal works were anticipated to lead to a temporary drop in water quality.
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.

Lee Heley, TDC Corporate Director for Place and Economy, said the awards recognised the quality of seafronts around the district as well as their beauty. “The Essex Sunshine Coast is wonderful place to enjoy, whether you live locally or travel in to visit,” Mr Heley said.
“In recognition of the importance of our coastline to the local economy, particularly tourism, we invest a lot of time, effort and money into our seafronts – and it is fantastic to have this work recognised with Blue Flag and Seaside Awards in this way.
“Having the prestigious Blue Flags and Seaside Awards make for an excellent advert for the Essex Sunshine Coast, and we hope will attract more visitors to Tendring.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “Visitors to 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.
“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
“We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches. The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.”

From August 18, residents from Essex, Kent and East Sussex can enter a ballot to be in with a chance of securing free tickets and vouchers for popular attractions, hotel and restaurants across Essex tanks to the Essex Bigger Weekend, hosted by Visit Essex

Whether you are grandparents keen to take grandchildren out for a day away from the crowds, a couple looking for a romantic midweek date or a family intent on making up for lost time, there is something for everyone in the Essex Bigger Weekend ballot.

Nominations are being accepted for the next Tendring4Growth Business Awards! This year’s Awards and Celebration Event is being kindly supported by Colbea.

If you know of a Tendring-based business or individual who you think deserves recognition for their successes, then why not nominate them for one of the following awards:
• Digital & Technology, sponsored by Rose Builders
• Women in Business, sponsored by Red Nova
• Tourism, sponsored by Clacton Pier
• Creativity & Culture
• Food & Drink Producer
• Independent Retailer, sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses
• Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Backing Essex Business

The full nomination criteria for each award can be found on the Business Awards webpage, and nominations will be accepted until the 4th of June.

Submit your nominations here Tendring4Growth Business Awards!

Tickets have gone on sale for the hospitality area at the 2023 Clacton Airshow.

Operated again by the Black Jacket Group, the hospitality area offers an elevated viewing area for the flight displays, a three-course meal and refreshments, as well as shelter should the weather not play ball at the event.

Staged by Tendring District Council (TDC) the Clacton Airshow – taking place on 24-25 August this year and celebrating its 30th anniversary – is one of the biggest events in the East of England, and the hospitality tickets have now gone on sale.

Nicola Denny, Operations Director at Thorrington-based Black Jacket Group, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the hospitality marquee again this year at the Clacton Airshow and look forward to working with Tendring District Council to make this another successful event.”

Mike Carran, TDC Assistant Director for Economic Growth and Leisure and Clacton Airshow Director, added: “It is fitting that the hospitality tickets have gone on sale in English Tourism Week, which this year is celebrating amazing businesses, experiences and places to stay.

“We are pleased to welcome back a Tendring-based firm to run the hospitality area, and know how important the Clacton Airshow is to the district’s economy – whether it is people staying in local accommodation, spending on food and drink or at the wonderful attractions we have here on the Essex Sunshine Coast.

“As we mark 30 years we hope people will be celebrating amazing memories, and that they join us to create new happy memories too – your support is what keeps the Clacton Airshow flying.”

Hospitality tickets can be purchased via our partner overseeing the area, the Black Jacket Group, and are priced at £59.50 for Thursday 24th August  (the hospitality area will be open from 11am until 8.30pm, a hot evening snack will be provide) and £51.50 for Friday 25th August (the hospitality area will be open from 11am until 6pm).

Included in the ticket price is-

• Parking.
• A welcome drink.
• A three course meal with wine.
• Unlimited tea & coffee.
• An official souvenir programme.
• A chance to meet the flight teams.
• A cash bar.
• Private toilet facilities.
• and much more.

For further information and to book tickets visit https://www.blackjacketgroup.com/event-tickets or email the Black Jacket team at events@blackjacketgroup.co.uk

#EnglishTourismWeek23 takes pace from Friday 17 March to Sunday 26 March 2023. The theme of this year’s national event is, ‘celebrating amazing experiences and amazing people’.

VisitEngland is proud to lead the annual English Tourism Week campaign celebrating our diverse, exciting and vibrant sector, and showcasing the quality, range and value of English tourism to stakeholders. The week provides an essential opportunity to raise awareness of the sector to key stakeholders including MPs, with VisitEngland working to support English destinations with political engagement nationally, regionally and locally, and the recovery of the sector.

Making up 80% of the UK’s visitor economy, English tourism in 2019 generated over £100 billion a year and supported 2.6 million jobs and is a major employer of school leavers and young people, as well as an incubator for entrepreneurs and innovation. It provides a spotlight to put tourism front of mind with key stakeholders and showcase the amazing work that goes on each and every day to build strong and resilient destinations. Local MPs will be supported with the information they need to understand just how important tourism is in their local area.

Local businesses can download the VisitEngland toolkit at https://orlo.uk/AFhYR

Harwich’s iconic Treadwheel Crane has been removed from Historic England’s Risk Register following completion of vital restoration works.

 

Historic England has published its annual Heritage at Risk Register for 2022. The Register is a yearly health-check of England’s most valued historic places and lists those most at risk of being lost.

Restoration works on the Grade ll* listed Treadwheel Crane, a unique building in Historic Harwich, began earlier this year which included works to the structure – such as repairing a ground slab causing subsidence – as well as restoration to the roof, timber frame, and the crane itself.

A grant of more than £140,000 was awarded to Tendring District Council (TDC) to fund the restoration through Historic England’s Heritage Stimulus Fund. TDC, which owns the crane, has funded the remaining 25% of the repair cost – almost £47,000.

An experimental but traditional technique using tar and sail cloth, rather than paint and other materials, was used to weatherproof the conical roof; which is one of the reasons Historic England supported the grant bid.

Carlo Guglielmi, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance, said it was important to protect the area’s heritage.

“I am delighted that this iconic and historic building has been removed from the Risk Register. It is testimony to the hard work and devotion put in by all members and partners involved in the restoration project, saving the Treadwheel Crane,” Councillor Guglielmi said.

To find out more about Historic Harwich visit www.historicharwich.co.uk or for further details about the Treadwheel Crane go to the Harwich Society website at www.harwich-society.co.uk