Anxious traders fear one of Kent’s busiest beaches will soon be hit with a swimming ban following a spike in unsafe levels of bacteria in the sea.
Figures released by the Environment Agency (EA) reveal the water at Dymchurch over the past four years has contained higher levels of E.coli than neighbouring beaches at Littlestone and St Mary’s Bay – where do-not-swim warnings are already in place.
Now business owners in the Romney Marsh village, which is incredibly popular with tourists in the summer months, say their area could soon be facing a similar fate.
Data collected since 2020 shows Dymchurch beach has an average of 188 E.coli colonies per 100ml. In comparison, St Mary’s Bay has 101 and Littlestone 139.
The statistics also show heightened traces of intestinal enterococci in the sea at Dymchurch, indicating human faeces may be in the water, which was rated as ‘sufficient’ last year.
Although the EA is yet to issue any swimming advisories for the village, residents fear many businesses will be “devastated” if the guidance is introduced.
Cleo and Chimene Proctor, who run Sundaes ice cream parlour in Dymchurch high street, say holidaymakers “would go elsewhere”.
“During the summer period, our main clientele is holidaymakers coming to the beach,” Chimene said.
“It won't just affect us. So many of the businesses here rely on people visiting the beach.
“We do have some regular customers who live locally, but we really do rely on the tourists visiting the village.
“If a do-not-swim warning was in place I don't think we’d have to close our business down but it will make things more challenging.”
Traders’ fears have increased after seeing how St Mary’s Bay and Littlestone have been affected by the do-not-swim warnings which are set to remain in place throughout the year.
The water on both beaches has also been found to contain high levels of intestinal enterococci, as well as E.coli.
For the past 18 months, people have been urged not to go into the sea at St Mary’s Bay, while the same advice was also issued in Littlestone in January after the water there was found to be polluted.
Business owners on Marsh said earlier this year how they have been thrown into “turmoil” by the warning.
This week, Karl Emanuelsson, who has owned The Beach Sun Retreat in Dymchurch since 2009, says the water quality situation across the county is “outrageous”.
The 47-year-old, who lives in Maidstone, said: “It's terrible for everyone that lives there and for all the businesses.
“Dymchurch is very much a children's paradise. People come from all over the south-east to be on this beautiful, sandy, lovely beach.
“We don’t live in a third-world country. This sort of thing should not be happening.
“I actually think these no-swim warnings will be devastating for the whole of Kent. People don't necessarily look at the ratings for the individual beaches. They will just assume the entire county has the issue.
“It's also very worrying for the fish and crabs that live in the sea. Why should they have to suffer.”
Fingers have previously been pointed at Southern Water but the firm said earlier this year the issues at Littlestone and St Mary’s Bay are not associated with its storm overflows.
The EA said in April how there is “no single cause” and that it has identified a number of sources, including dog and bird faeces and people misconnecting toilets and showers.
But Dougie Young, chairman of Dymchurch Parish Council, says he recently called an extraordinary meeting due to the increased levels of bacteria in the sea.
“The EA, Southern Water, members of the public and other stakeholders were present and we discussed why these spikes are happening,” he said.
“We're trying to find out the reasons for the spikes and the authorities informed us it could be misconnections from properties and some cesspits not functioning properly.
“I think even if a no-swim warning is in place people will still swim anyway.
“We have a brilliant beach and spend a lot of money on making it a special place for visitors.”
District councillor Tony Cooper (Lab), who represents Romney Marsh, says the “authorities need to do more” to fix the issues on Kent beaches but has urged that Dymchurch is “open as usual”.
“As far as we know Dymchurch is still safe to swim in,” he said.
“We will know more in December when the EA makes an announcement on the yearly findings.
“The results in St Mary’s Bay and Littlestone are improving but more needs to be done to improve other areas.”
In July, anxious residents in Deal told KentOnline that falling water quality will "kill" their coastal town if people are warned not to swim in the sea.
Deal Beach has been downgraded from ‘excellent’ to ‘sufficient’ - despite Southern Water spending millions on improving the area.
The EA and Southern Water have been approached for comment.
Folkestone Human Interest Hythe Kent Romney Marsh Oliver Leonard
