Parts of the beach at Whitstable are privately owned

Canterbury City Council has said it is not responsible for the private section of Whitstable beach, which is owned by the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company.

The council tried to buy the beach in 2003, but was turned down.

Beach campaigner Nick Dewhirst said the owners allowed the public to use it for free so the council should "do its job" and maintain the amenity.

"It already pays for sea defences here, so its position simply isn't something that is tenable," he said.

Mr Dewhirst, from the Whitstable Beach Campaign, which lobbies to protect the beach on behalf of users, said the beach was important to local people and businesses.

'Lousy rating'

He said the beach was the town's main asset attracting tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of visitors every year, so it was important that it was kept clean.

"It must be a clean beach, otherwise we get a lousy rating."

Canterbury City Council has promised to start negotiations about how to keep the beach clean.

The Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company said it believed the council should maintain the local amenity.