The study highlights that litter left by beach-goers, rather than pollution or sewage, is the main scourge of the UK’s beaches u0096 with 95 per cent agreeing that rubbish such as plastic bottles, glass and cigarette ends, are the major cause of beach degradation.
It is thought that Shakespeare Beach, outside the harbour, might have been the intended target of people’s views. Despite the best efforts of volunteers to keep the beach clean, a lot of items are washed in from the English Channel.
Dover Harbour, on 12 per cent, was said to be the UK’s second least favourite beach, followed by Brighton on 10 per cent.
Blackpool has been named as the most hated beach in Britain with 30 per cent of those surveyed saying they never want to visit the seaside town.
The aim, say the organisers, is to raise public awareness of beach conservation and to provide funding for the regeneration of some of the dirtiest beaches in Europe.
Described as the largest Euorpean survey of public attitudes towards beaches, the survey is part of the Save the Beach campaign, a partnership between Corona, and the Foundation for Environmental Education and its Blue Flag programme.
Coming just days after the beach was included in the latest edition of the Good Beach Guide, there may be some doubt about which beach was being referred to in the latest study.
There was confusion over a survey of the UK’s best and worst beaches this week after Dover beach was said to have been voted the second most hated beach in the country.