Kitesurfers are heartbroken after being banned from a picturesque coastal area in Kent that they have used for over 20 years due to concerns about disturbing bird populations. Previously, a partnership between Natural England, Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT), and the kitesurfing community allowed the sport at Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate. Graeme Rolbiecki, who operates Kite Pirates at Pegwell Bay, expressed his devastation, stating that it is a significant setback for the kitesurfing community and the region of Thanet and East Kent.
KWT highlighted that the bay is home to “rare and endangered bird species” that can be disturbed by activities such as jet skiing, paddleboarding, and kitesurfing. Pegwell Bay is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is an internationally significant National Nature Reserve, inaugurated by Sir David Attenborough in 1999.
After KWT raised concerns about the impact on local wildlife, the voluntary agreement allowing watersports, which had been in place, was not renewed when it expired in November. Kitesurfers may now face a £100 fixed penalty notice from Thanet District Council (TDC) for violating the authority’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the beaches, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Stefano Biagini, a kitesurfer from Whitstable, expressed disappointment, wishing that the authorities had chosen to “work with us” rather than implement a “draconian” ban on kitesurfing. A KWT report noted that in 2022, there were 25 reports of violations of the kitesurfing agreement, which increased to 60 in the following year.A spokesperson for TDC stated that the PSPO encompasses the entire Thanet coastline and prohibits any activities that disrupt wildlife.
Leave a Reply