Beach Management

Team Overview

Our team is dedicated to ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all visitors to the Tendring District's beautiful beaches. We are committed to maintaining high standards of safety, cleanliness, and customer service across all our seafront areas.

Beach Management Plan

Team Members and Roles

• Seafronts Services Manager: Oversees the Beach Patrol Team, coordinates activities along the seashore, promenades, cliffs, and other seafront areas. Collaborates with Council services to enhance maintenance and appearance standards and works with the Tourism Team to promote district beaches.
• Senior Beach Lifeguards: Have the same qualifications and responsibilities as Beach Lifeguards but also manage day-to-day operations and staff at their respective locations.
• Beach Lifeguards: Hold an RLSS Beach Lifeguard qualification and are tasked with performing free swim and rescue board assistance. They patrol on rescue boards during busier periods and are trained to use Council Jet Skis and boats for rescues.
• Seafront Wardens: Patrol seafronts, report defects, assist the public with local information, give out safety advice, and manage emergency situations. They are trained to deal with first aid incidents but are not expected to enter the water in an emergency.

Coverage Areas

The Tendring District Council Beach Lifeguards supervise beaches in the following locations, and these can be clearly identified by the yellow and red flags:

• Clacton – Martello Bay*, Palace Breakwater (Yellow beach), East (Fishtail 1 and 2) *
• Frinton-on-Sea – on the lower promenade at the bottom of the Zig Zag Steps*.
• Walton-on-the -Naze – Albion Beach, directly down from Central Kiosk and Central Public Toilets*.

*This is dependent on the staffing levels. The Council promotes these beaches as supervised areas, in busy visitor areas.  All other beaches are not supervised.

The Tendring District Council Seafront Wardens patrol the following locations:

• Brightlingsea – From Bateman’s Tower to Brightlingsea Sailing Club*
• Dovercourt – From Dovercourt Bay to Harwich Haven Authority *
• Frinton-on-Sea – From The Walings to Lea’s*
• Walton-on-the -Naze - From the Lea’s to the Naze Cliffs*
• Clacton – West Beach to Holland Haven *

*This is dependent on the staffing levels

Please note that these are RED Flagged Beaches, therefore, we recommend beachgoers to position themselves on one of the supervised beaches listed above:

• Clacton - Either side of the pier
• Walton - Either side of the pier

The Seafront Team is available from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm on weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays between May Half Term and the end of summer holidays. Note that Brightlingsea and Dovercourt Beach Office will be open from 11 am to 5 pm on these same days. Beach supervision dates follow the Local Education Authority's schedule, with adjustments made each year based on an operational review.