An amusement park owner is urging people to visit his seaside village over the bank holiday despite its poor water quality rating.
Mark Woolls, who runs Dymchurch Amusement Park, says there is much more to do in the area than just swimming.
In November last year, the Environment Agency downgraded the beach’s water quality to “poor” and a no-swim warning was issued.
Nearby Littlestone has the same rating, along with Deal further along the coast.
Earlier this year, businesses in the town said they “feared for their survival” and worried the rating would scare tourists away.
Mr Woolls, who has run his park for 30 years, told KentOnline: “You don’t have to not come because of the water.
“You can still paddle in the sea, you can still walk in the sea, it’s just that you can’t swim underneath the water.
“You can still go on the beach, play cricket, and play football.
“It’s just a lovely sandy beach.”
The 63-year-old also says there are several local businesses to enjoy, rather than just the coastline.
He explained: “There are lots of little shops that sell ice cream, there are great fish and chips, great bars.
“We’ve got the amusement park where we’ve got some rides that have been updated in the last years.
“Come for a good, fun day out.”
Thankfully, the businessman, who is currently redeveloping the former Royal Leisure Centre in Deal into flats, has not seen a huge drop in customers after the downgrading yet.
But, he added: “It’s a worry of the future because when you put it out there that the water quality is poor, some people will think, ‘well, we can’t go to the beach’.
“But you still can. Play in the sand, build sandcastles. These are things that I think generations have done for years.
“That’s why people go abroad, to play on the sandy beaches. But we’ve got it in this country in front of us.”
In April, the area’s MP, Tony Vaughan (Lab), visited the village to sample a quick-fire water testing device.
On the day he visited, Mr Vaughan found the water was low-risk, prompting him to demand greater frequency of testing so that “blacklisted” beaches can have more up-to-date results reported.
Mr Woolls is hoping Dymchurch’s rating will be upgraded by the end of summer.
He said: “I understand that they’re still testing it.
“We’re hoping that they give some good tests that people can come down and swim.
“But, Dymchurch will still be open. The beach will still be there.”
The Environment Agency most recently tested the water on August 12, according to the government website.
It showed almost no traces of Escherichia coli or Intestinal Enterococci – far less than the same time last year.
