Sandgate’s campaign to get Granville Parade beach designated a bathing beach has had a massive boost with news the government has accepted the Parish Council’s application and it is included among 13 new designated swimming sites nationally proposed by the government.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kgngg4wl4o
Designation would mean Granville Parade would get regular water quality testing to reassure swimmers on pollution levels – at the moment our closest water monitoring point is at Seabrook (despite being officially called “Sandgate beach”).
Sandgate Parish Council ran an informal consultation and beach usage surveys in 2025, as a part of the application process. The application was submitted in October 2025, and has resulted in Granville Parade being included as one of 13 potential new designated bathing beaches nationally.
You can take part in the consultation on the DEFRA website.
Sandgate Parish Council Chair Tim Prater said:
“We’re delighted that our application for Granville Parade – Sandgate’s main beach – to be a designated bathing water has moved to the next stage.
“We have got here due to the work of volunteers, and the support of residents, visitors, swimmers, organisations and people from across the community including our MP Tony Vaughan.
“We hope people will input into this survey too and support the designation. Doing so literally puts us on the map, but more importantly means we may get regular water quality testing here, where people swim, rather than at Seabrook Battery Point, where less people do.”