“I think an official naturist beach would be good for Thanet and south east kent. I understand that people will object to the idea as they feel offended by the nude body. The thing is Naturist will not just vanish if you try to ban the beaches. As far as i'm aware Botany bay has been used by naturists for many years. the best solution is to sign post the area then people will not be offended. It works on other beaches in the country. It works well abroad with no problems. France and Spain have hundreds of official naturist beaches even inland on rivers and we in Britain have a tiny handful in some really bad areas i.e Leysdown. I think Sandwich bay would also be an excellent designated naturist beach as it is in the ideal spot. Again sign posted marked out areas would make it work. I believe naturist beaches would bring in tourism to the area. Many Dutch and Germans visit this country each year and would probally find areas that have naturist beaches. It would be good for the local people to have an official naturist on our doorstep instead of having to travelling to Hastings or Leysdown.”

“If I may put in my two pence worth, I am not a naturist, but I had a bad experience where I was racially abused, along with my children, on a supposedly family friendly 'normal' beach in Leysdown. I stumbled upon the naturist beach in Leysdown a few weeks later, while visiting and photographing old WW2 defences, and decided to lie on the beach and relax for a while (dressed). I was not made to feel unwelcome on account of my skin colour or the fact that I was dressed, while practically everyone around was naked. If all naturists are as welcoming and accepting as those I met at Leysdown, I fail to see what harm designating a bit of beach on Botany Bay will do.”

“Apparantly Palm Bay school have a petition against the beach in their reception! See my blog for more details...”

“I can understand that some people do not want to see other people naked and that is their right this is why if there were signs informing people of a nudist beach then they have no cause to be offended as they will not stumble upon it by accident just like if you don't like heavy metal music you wouldn't go to an Iron Maiden concert. As for nudists beaches being a place for all sorts of deviant behavior is pure ignorance,living in north kent i have on a number of occasions gone for a stroll down leysdown way and have walked through the nudist beach there and apart from the fact that most of the people there are naked they are behaving the same way as people on beaches up and down the county.Remeber that in victorian time it wasn't permited to see a lady bath an had to be lowered into the water in a carrage and even in the sixties the bikini was thought to be to revealling looking back at these facts most would agree that thse views are out of date and wrong so lets move with the times. People seem to think that sunbathing naked is some sort of sexual pleasure when i don't believe it is, though not a Naturist myself, thought about it one day I would like to try got to pluck up the courage first, I can understand the freedom it provides.In this modern world we live in it is no longer acceptable to be prejudice against minorities and rightly so but is it's ok to pick on Naturist through lack of education on the matter.”

“That's interesting PS! According to today's Gazette, the newspaper are collecting together all comments & emails & sending them to Thanet District Council to help them with their decision, so I hope they're made aware of this. I thought it was very strange that they'd found 300 people to oppose the traditional stretch of beach used for naturism, as when I was out with both BBC South-East & Radio Kent they struggled to find people 100% opposed to this (those who did opposed generally agreed that this small quite stretch of beach if signposted would be acceptable).”

“i spoke to the lady collecting signatures from people from the beach and whilst i was there she was giving them the impression that the main beach was to be naturist.i wonder how many of her 300 signatures were given on false information.naturists have used botany bay for over 60 years, long before the Ridings were built.only the rubberneckers can see from the cycle path.dont knock it till you have tried it.”

“That's excellent news Andy, the more people that use it then the bigger our chances of getting the place officially recognised. I personally find lazing on beaches a little boring these days (despite my campaigning), & generally prefer to go for nude hikes etc (something I plan to do tomorrow), but I have a free weekend so may try to get down to Botany Bay sometime then.”

“Today there must have been over 25+ people using the naturist part of the beach. From couples, single males, single females, there was a couple with a small child also.

I also overheard that a french visitor was enjoying un-clothed freedom on the beach.

overall it was fairly busy with clothed and unclothed sharing the space without any problems. People from the main end of Botany Bay strolled, every now and again, up to the dune area and took no notice of the naked people relaxing in the sea and on the sand. There was certainly enough space fro all and more.
I did not witness any worrying behaviour that is usually suggested as the reason for there being a ban in such a place. In fact people were just getting on with spending time at the beach, whether wearing clothes or not. Happy hot days, and all too few.”

“Went to Botany for my first experience on Saturday. It was wonderfull and relaxing, no hassle and kept myself to myself. Mind you, some rubber neckers liked to peer over the cliff - one day one will fall over!!
As Isaid in my previous post I do hope this area is made official, we aren't out to shock or offend.
Give it a go, who knows you might enjoy it as much as I did.”

“Steve, Only these, I welcome them, who knows, & perhaps! ; )

How's your anti-Manston Airport group doing, any progress?”