Thanet Coast area

The coastline is predominantly urbanised with the main seaside towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate within the Isle of Thanet (population, 127,000).

There is intense recreational and visitor use, with two million tourists visiting the area each year; a port, several small harbours, fishing activity, seawalls, and waste treatment works - which add to the various pressures faced by the coastline.

The area has also been identified within Europe as a priority area for economic regeneration.

The former island has a great wealth of heritage connections and testaments to some of these still exist, such as the former Roman forts at Reculver and Richborough, which were situated on the mainland.