Take a waterfront walk through Oslo and you will see dozens of saunas – it’s a major part of Nordic life.
But the Scandi-life does not seem to appeal to one councillor in the coastal town of Deal, Dover.
Helen Williams fears that the construction of a new sauna on Walmer beach would affect water quality because ‘I dislike the idea of people sweating in the sauna then washing the sweat off in the sea’.
The salinity of water in the English Channel, where these people will be sweating into, is typically 3.4% to 3.5% – much like all other oceans around the world.
During a discussion about the mobile sauna being located on the shingle, along with an office and changing room, Cllr Williams told Dover District Council: ‘Local people are very concerned about sea water quality.’
Cllr Williams also expressed concern that the sauna would impact access to the beach. A council planning officer suggested that people could ‘easily walk around them’.
Fellow councillor Jamie Pout dismissed the concern as ‘laughable’, adding: ‘If you went to the beach today, you’d probably get quite hot and if you went in the sea, you’d probably be sweating as well.
‘I’d be more concerned that Southern Water are dumping crap in the sea than people going to the beach, doing something nice and supporting a local business. And I’d urge councillors to maybe think about what they’re saying in an open forum.’
The sauna, which consists of two black huts occupying less than 25sq m, will not require mains water or electricity as the rooms are heated by wood-fired stoves.
Concerns about the colour of the huts were dismissed because there are darker buildings along the promenade, including a Victorian shelter.
More than 300 residents wrote to the council to support the Sea Scrub Sauna plans ahead of the planning committee meeting last week.
Public comments in support praise the tasteful design and Sea Scrub Sauna’s track record of delivering good facilities elsewhere in Kent, including Whitstable, Faversham, Folkestone and Margate.
The application came after DDC sought a sauna operator in putting the seafront location out to tender last year, with Sea Scrub Sauna winning the bid.
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Speaking at the meeting on August 13, Sea Scrub Sauna’s co-founder Robin Bartlett said: ‘This is about much more than installing a sauna.
‘It’s about creating a welcoming, year-round community space that brings people together, supports local businesses and charities, attracts new visitors and gives residents another reason to enjoy the seafront in every season.’
Councillors voted eight-to-one in favour of the plans.
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