Could Sheppey end up with a tidal paddling pool like the ones at Margate or Southend?

That's the dream of Sheerness councillor Chris Reed who is also a sea swimmer and can often be seen taking a dip near her seafront home.

"It would mean youngsters could continue to paddle in safety even when the tide is out," she said.

"Margate has had two paddling pools for years. They are safe havens for inflatable dinghies and paddle boards which cannot be swept out to sea by the wind or tide."

Tidal paddling pools also collect a wealth of marine wildlife. Once a year the pool at Margate, with three concrete sides, is emptied to clean away silt and allow the study of sea creatures like crabs, anemones and small fish.

Southend has a more modern and complex arrangement featuring a sea-facing wall of rocks landscaped to look like a lagoon.

It is filled with imported sand to allow youngsters to play and has a row of public toilets and open-air showers. There is even a restaurant next to it with sea views.

Cllr Reed said: "The ideal spot at Sheerness would be next to the Neptune jetty by the Roman Catholic church. The jetty could be one of the sides to keep costs down."

But Sheerness town council's clerk Zoe O'Brien says the project is unlikely to happen.

She said: "Chris Reed did enquire about this but we were advised by Ian Arnell (Swale council's seafront manager) that our tides are too high and being shingle it would not be possible."

The town council has recently cleared rocks from part of the beach at the top of Beach Street and marked it with buoys to make paddling a little safer.

There is already a paddling pool behind the seawall next to the Sheppey Leisure Centre but no public toilets on the promenade. Visitors caught short must use the loos at the leisure centre, McDonald's or Tesco's beach front supermarket although Swale council has plans to build a new block at Beachfields.

Would you like to see a paddling pool on the beach? Email your thoughts to timesguardian@thekmgroup.co.uk or leave a comment below.

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