North Thanet`s MP, Sir Roger Gale, has branded as “Litter Vandals” those responsible  and called for tougher action following the mountain of refuse left on Margate Main Sands by `visitors` last week.

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Speaking at his Thanet home the MP said:

“Once again a small number of louts have spoiled  our beaches for the overwhelmingly decent and law-abiding majority  and the time has come to throw the book at these people.

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Last Monday I was swimming from the Main Sands with Cllr George Kup and lifeguards to help to launch this season`s `Swim Safe` programme for young people.  The entire beach was pristine and had been well cared-for by the Council. 

By Thursday evening that same beach was a midden and it is no excuse to say “it was the hottest day of the year”.  Most people take their litter home with them but there is an irresponsible minority that believe that they can behave as they wish and expect other people to clear up their trash after them.

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Clearly the Council will have to review the provision of rubbish bins adjacent to the entrances to the sands to make sure that the facilities are adequate but at the same time we have to hold the vandals to account. If it is possible to issue an on-the-spot fine for dropping a bus ticket in the street then it has to be possible to pay for wardens by issuing hefty immediate penalties for leaving trash on the beach.  Once word gets around that the culprits will have to pay for their disgusting behaviour then I suspect that the practice will stop. At the end of the day the only real way to curb litter vandalism is to hit the perpetrators where it hurts most – in the pocket.”

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