Sandy UK seashore slammed for ‘urine waterfall’ flowing from public bogs

A popular Kent beach has been slammed after a family claimed they had to wade through a waterfall of urine flowing out of the toilets.

The overflow was “cascading down the steps” leading to Broadstairs’ Botany Bay, which holds coveted Blue Flag status for its clean and sandy beaches, reports Kent Live

Holidaymaker Angela Abrahams was less than impressed with the state of the facilities when she visited the Thanet beach with her family this summer, and compared the scene to “a third-world country”.

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Mrs Abrahams, from Sutton in south London, said: “We spent about four hours on the beach having the most fantastic time.

“Just before lunch, we decided to head off, intending to come back down after, but as we started to climb the stairs, we could see a cascade of urine coming down.

“The smell was unbelievable and at first we attempted to walk on the bit of the foliage at the side, but that became impossible.

“Instead we had to wade through a waterfall of effluent.

“We had no option, and I cannot tell you how awful that was – it’s appalling in this day and age.”

Botany Bay holds Blue Flag status, which is used internationally to mark the best beaches. Recipients have to meet a number of environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

Mrs Abrahams added: “It’s all very well the council promoting and celebrating a Blue Flag beach, which is just amazing, but if you can’t go to the toilet or even walk past the toilets, it’s like a third-world country.”

She added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if people went away with something nasty. I’m quite a frequent visitor, but I’m not going back again.

“The most important bit, the health and safety of people visiting, doesn’t seem to be considered.”

Local resident Tina Hubbard, who regularly walks her dog along the coast, says she would not be surprised if the beach loses its Blue Flag status over the toilet issues.

The 71-year-old said: “I saw a mother trying to get down to the beach with her young children and she was carrying the baby and the little boy – he slipped and fell at one point in it.

“Going down to the beach you can at least have a paddle and get it off your shoes, but coming back up through it, you can’t.

“I just feel very ashamed that all we can offer them at this beautiful beach is stinky toilets.”

There have long been calls to upgrade the “inadequate” facilities and Thanet District Council said it is investing £1.25 million to improve existing public toilets.

On the issues at Botany Bay, it added: “The council provides public toilets for the benefit of residents and visitors, at key locations across Thanet. We have started work to improve them.

“There are plans to put forward a proposal to improve the public toilets at Botany Bay. If these plans are approved and funding secured, new accessible toilets will be installed, with work expected to start in 2025.”