Category: News
Two new blue flags for Tendring Beaches
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.”
Essex Big Weekend 2023
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.
Corbeau Seats Rally Tendring & Clacton 22 & 23 April 2023
The Corbeau Seats Rally will return to the area on 22 & 23 April 2023 with a field of more than 100 cars entering the fray.
The Saturday evening Clacton seafront stage, which was introduced last year, has been extended for this edition. At 6pm, rally cars will exit the greensward before meeting in the Hazlemere Road Car Park in Holland-on-Sea.
In the Clacton section, there will be viewing areas along the stage, free of charge, with the one nearest the start thought of as offering the best views.
The rally’s four Sunday stages have been extended and will cover Little Bromley, Great Bromley, Mistley, Bradfield, Wix and Tendring and Great Bentley. Roads will be closed from 7am on Sunday to the end of the rally.
For more information email residents@corbeauseatsrally.co.uk and visit www.corbeauseatsrally.co.uk for a map of the rally, road closure details and spectator information.
Tendring4Growth Business Awards 2023
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!
Hospitality tickets for Clacton Airshow are on sale
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
English Tourism Week 2023
#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
Clacton Airshow set for landmark 30th event
Planning is underway for this year’s Clacton Airshow, which is marking its 30th event. Tendring District Council’s Airshow organising team is planning options with its flight director partners TSA Consulting Ltd to make the landmark an extra-special event on 24-25 August. Flight organisations such as the RAF are assessing our bids for flight displays.
The 29th Clacton Airshow, held on 25-26 August last year, saw one of the event’s busiest-ever days on day two. The flight display included the RAF Red Arrows (sponsored by Lightspeed Broadband), the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (sponsored by Befibre) and a twilight display on the first evening.
Drone footage taken during the 2022 Airshow has been revealed this week on the Essex Sunshine Coast social media channels and the Clacton Airshow website. TDC worked with the flight director team to fly the drone shortly before the Red Arrows took to the Clacton skies on the second day of the 2022 event, and will use the footage to promote the area. It is thought to be the first time a drone has been flown at the Clacton Airshow, which has strictly controlled airspace for safety reasons, and the video reveals the scale of crowds at the 29th event.
Green Flag bids to be made for Tendring
Bids are being made once again for Tendring’s open spaces to be recognised with a prestigious quality award.
Green Flag awards will be entered again by Tendring District Council (TDC) in 2023 as the authority looks to retain the award for four of its managed gardens; which all kept their Green Flag status last year.
The four sites hoping to keep their Green Flag are Clacton Seafront Gardens; Crescent Gardens, Frinton; Cliff Park, Dovercourt; and Weeley Crematorium Gardens.
The Green Flag Award Scheme is a nationally recognised benchmark for parks and open spaces. Any spaces which are freely open to the public and which have a specific management plan can apply.
They are judged on several criteria including how welcoming they are, tidiness and good maintenance, security, sustainability, and community involvement.
TDC’s open spaces are managed by a team of staff, supported by volunteer groups who give their time in all seasons to keeping the areas looking excellent.
Michael Talbot, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said the support of local communities was vital.
“Our horticultural staff do excellent work year-round to keep our open spaces looking incredible, but they cannot manage it without the support and involvement of local community groups and volunteers,” Councillor Talbot said.
“Working together their efforts ensure these spaces look vibrant and pleasant for local residents and visitors alike, with visitors often commenting to us about how great the planting is.
“It is absolutely right this hard work is recognised with Green Flags, and I hope the judges will be suitably impressed again this year.”
Judging for the Green Flag takes place during early summer with the results announced later that season.
Anyone interested in volunteering to look after a public open space in Tendring can contact Sean Biswell, TDC’s Temporary Community and Volunteer Projects Manager, on 07786 660603 or at seanbiswell@tendringdc.gov.uk.
Find out more about the Green Flag Awards at www.greenflagaward.org.
A new informal café-bar to open in Clacton
A new informal café-bar, the Martello Lounge, will be open all day, every day for long, lazy breakfasts, sociable brunches and lunches, and relaxed dinners and drinks in Clacton-on-Sea on 25th January.
The café-bar will offer all day food selection’s that accommodates all dietary requirements including options for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free.
In addition, the bar will be both dog and family-friendly as dogs will be treated with refreshments and children can be entertained with board games and toys.
To find out more:
Visit: www.thelounges.co.uk/martello
Email: martello@thelounges.co.uk
Call: 0117 930 9971
Located: Atlanta Building Kings Promenade Pier Group, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 1FS • •