Thursday, April 17, 2008

Bum Deal

Top Thanet nudie Peter Checksfield has emailed me the following, er, nudes flash regarding the ongoing saga of whether naturists should have the right to strip off on our beaches here on the Ile de Thanet:

I've just got an email from Joe McCarthy of TDC:

Further to a recent meeting the Council has decided to go out to public consultation on this matter in relation to the beaches at Botany Bay and Pegwell Bay. We will notify of the outcome from this consultation as soon as possible. Thank you


So, what do you think? Bottomy Bay or Pegwell? I've popped one of my seven day polls in the side bar on the right, so do feel free to express yourself.

20 comments:

Peter C said...

Personally I'd prefer Pegwell Bay, despite the fact that it's a bit further from where I live in Westbrook (a 25 minute cycle ride instead of 15 minutes to Botany Bay!). Pegwell Bay has the following advantages over Botany:

* It's south facing, so usually sheltered from the cold easterly winds.

* It has nearby snack & toilet facilities.

* It can still be easily accessed at high tide (including by disabled people, something that's impossible at Botany Bay).

* Buses stop nearby.

The biggest disadvantage is that there's not actually much of a beach there, & the tide goes out a long way.

I cycled over to Pegwell Bay a few days back to check it out, & unless people get express permission I don't think many would brave stripping off alone with all the dog walkers & bait diggers around! So I suspect that in the meantime people will carry on using Botany Bay.

Anonymous said...

Brighton has one, and Thanet Council need to do more to create more variety in this area to attract visitors. Take Margate there is little to attract visitors, and that is reflected in the number of people visiting and many do come back!

Anonymous said...

It's fine with me but I do think it should be out of the way. Some people might not want their kids coming across a flailing willy unexpectedly. Therefore i would say it needs to be away from a beach with good facilities actually.

Peter C said...

So don't Naturists deserve good facilities too?

Anonymous said...

What's the problem with children seeing a naked person on the beach?

Anonymous said...

What's the problem with children seeing a naked person on the beach?

Anonymous said...

No really, what's the problem with children seeing a naked person on the beach?

Anonymous said...

Because most people are still very Victorian about their bodies.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't get more Victorian than round here mate.

Michael Child said...

Looking at the picture of the nudists on Ramsgate main sands in 1788 it occurs to me that in Ramsgate we have three beaches that one can bathe from, that one, the one by the site of the old marina swimming pool and the one below the westcliff. I would have thought one or part of one of them allowing nudism would be beneficial to the towns economy, from a purely business point of view I suspect nudists buy books like everyone else.

Perhaps when the weather warms up we could get TDC to allow some sort of 220th anniversary celebration.

Peter in my opinion they deserve a section of the beach protected by lifeguards like everyone else and if a nudist drowns in the very difficult cross currents in Pegwell Bay there may well be grounds for their family suing TDC for corporate manslaughter.

Peter C said...

"Peter in my opinion they deserve a section of the beach protected by lifeguards like everyone else..."

I couldn't agree more Michael, but unfortunately it seems a tradition with councils in the UK to only allocate beaches that no-one else wants (such as crumbling hoverports!).

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I posted a comment on this very matter.
For those interested, my blog will illuminate. I won't reproduce it here.

Peter C said...

Jethro, can you give us a link to your blog? When I click on your name I get the following message: "Profile Not Available. The Blogger Profile you requested cannot be displayed. Many Blogger users have not yet elected to publicly share their Profile."

Richard Eastcliff said...

There's a link to Jethro's blog on my sidebar.

Anonymous said...

Pegwell Bay was granted nudie bathing status back in the late 70's or early eighties. Did they withdraw the arrangement?

Anonymous said...

I am a mother of a young child - with more on the way.

I fully support the campaign for a Thanet beach on which people can go nude.
I live on the Westcliff and I'd be quite happy if it was Pegwell, or the beach we frequent most often at Western undercliff.

I would still use the beach - if clothing is allowed. I'm not a nudist - but am known to do naked housework. I will not be getting my kit off on the beach but i have no problem with others being naked around me.

I don't mind my children seeing willies - and, to be honest, I don't mind seeing them myself!

You said TDC are consulting - how do I let them know my valuable opinion?

Peter C said...

Thanks for your support Mrs T.P. (& everyone else), the guy dealing with this at Thanet Council in Joe McCarthy, so I suggest contacting him:

Joe.McCarthy@thanet.gov.uk

And any approved beach would be "clothes optional", so you wouldn't HAVE to be naked!

Cheers All,

Peter C.

Peter C said...

PS. Perhaps Richard could send Joe the poll results (Just 8 hours left to vote!). : )

Anonymous said...

What were the poll results?