Beach gets water fountain to cut plastic waste

Campaigners say the water fountain will help eliminate the need for plastic water bottles

The first community-funded water fountain on a beach in Thanet is being officially unveiled on Sunday.

The fountain on Kent's Margate Main Sands was paid for by the public after a two-year campaign.

It has been installed and will be maintained by Thanet District Council.

The environmental group Rise Up Clean Up (RUCU) Margate, which co-ordinated the campaign, said it was "a massive step to eliminating the need for plastic water bottles".

Margate Main Sands is Thanet's busiest beach.

A RUCU spokesperson said: "On a hot day the population can grow by up to 25%, but the waste management budget remains the same.

"Thanet is now working towards becoming a plastic-free community and removing single-use plastic bottles is a central part of this plan."

Council cleaning teams remove up to five tonnes of rubbish from the bins around the beach on busy days, according to RUCU.

Volunteers often remove a further 90 bags of litter from the beach itself, including a lot of plastic bottles.

Amy Cook, RUCU co-founder, said: “This is the result of two long years of campaigning.

"We hope that this is the first of many water fountains in Thanet."

The fountain, on Margate Main Sands near Marine Terrace, will be unveiled at an opening ceremony with Mayor of Margate Rob Yates.

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