A Seaside Health Crisis: Thanet’s Struggle with Life Expectancy

Thanet, known for its picturesque coastline and seaside towns of Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs, faces a grim reality. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that the district has one of the lowest life expectancies in England, exposing a deeply concerning health inequality.

Men born in Thanet today are expected to live just past their 77th birthday—nearly two years less than the national average of 78.9 years. For women, life expectancy stands at 81.7 years, also falling short of the England average of 82.8 years. Over the last decade, these figures have declined, setting Thanet apart as a district in crisis.

Thanet’s health statistics starkly contrast with its wealthier neighbours. In Kent, men in Sevenoaks live over four years longer, reaching an average age of 81.1. Women in Tunbridge Wells can expect to live until 84.1 years, two-and-a-half years more than their counterparts in Thanet. Nationally, the gap widens further: men born in affluent areas like Hart in Hampshire enjoy a decade longer in life expectancy compared to those in deprived districts such as Thanet.

The difference in life expectancy between Hart and Cliftonville West is striking, with males in Hart living on average 12.3 years longer (83.7 vs. 71.4 years) and females living 8.5 years longer (86.3 vs. 77.8 years), underscoring significant socio-economic and health inequalities.

Even within the South East, a region known for robust health outcomes, Thanet struggles. The worsening trends underscore how far the district has fallen behind.

Why Is Thanet Struggling?

The roots of Thanet’s health challenges lie in its socio-economic makeup. Once a thriving seaside resort, the district’s fortunes have declined over decades, leaving behind pockets of significant deprivation. High unemployment rates, limited economic opportunities, and poor housing conditions have created a perfect storm for ill health.

The district also has one of the highest concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the UK. These overcrowded, substandard living conditions exacerbate health problems, from respiratory illnesses to mental health struggles.

Lifestyle factors compound these issues. Thanet reports elevated rates of smoking, alcohol abuse, and obesity—behaviours often linked to systemic issues like childhood trauma, poverty, and limited access to education. Public health experts stress that these are not individual failures but symptoms of wider societal neglect.

A Decade of Decline

Over the past ten years, Thanet’s life expectancy figures have steadily declined. For men, the average lifespan fell from 78.6 years in 2010–2012 to 77.0 years in 2020–2022. Women’s life expectancy dropped from 82.9 years to 81.7 years in the same period. These numbers buck the national trend, where advances in healthcare typically lead to gradual improvements in longevity.

Thanet’s public health crisis extends beyond life expectancy. The district records some of the highest mortality rates in the South East for preventable diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions. Rates of drug-related deaths and smoking-related illnesses are disproportionately high, reflecting the entrenched challenges facing the area.

Funding cuts over the past decade have exacerbated Thanet’s struggles. Local government budgets have been slashed, disproportionately affecting deprived areas. Thanet’s public health grant has dwindled, leaving fewer resources to address chronic issues. In real terms, the district has hundreds of pounds less per person to spend on public health than wealthier areas, creating an uphill battle to deliver essential services.

Promises of the Margate Town Deal

The Margate Town Investment Plan, launched nearly five years ago to great fanfare and resulted in £22 million in funding, aimed to transform one of the UK’s most deprived areas, Cliftonville West, alongside the rest of Margate. It promised a holistic approach to “levelling up,” including targeted interventions to reduce health inequalities through improved coastal wellbeing initiatives.

The plan outlined several key strategies to address the persistent health disparities in areas like Cliftonville West:

• Coastal Wellbeing Projects: £6.5 million was allocated to create accessible facilities and activities promoting physical and mental health. This included the refurbishment of Walpole Bay tidal pool, new sports facilities, improvements to The Oval Bandstand (whose funding allocation has since been removed and reallocated), and better public realm connections (this funding has been reallocated to the Theatre Royal project).

• Community Engagement and Participation: The plan envisioned social prescribing initiatives and community-led programmes to empower local residents and reduce reliance on healthcare services.

• Long-term Health Outcomes: Margate’s coastline was to become a catalyst for reducing health inequalities, particularly in Cliftonville West, one of the most deprived areas in the country.

Despite these ambitious goals, tangible results appear limited. The coastal wellbeing initiative received £550,000 of revenue money to fund activities like free fitness classes, yet the word is these were poorly attended and failed to engage the “hard-to-reach” demographics. With only 15 months left to spend the Town Deal funds (March 2026), critical projects such as the skate park and tidal pool improvements have yet to reach even the planning stage. 

Searching for Solutions

Despite the grim statistics, there are glimmers of hope. Local organisations such as GRASS Cliftonville CIC are stepping up to improve community health in tangible ways. Their plans for a wellness garden and community gym aim to provide residents with accessible spaces for physical activity, gardening, and mental wellbeing. These initiatives highlight the importance of grassroots efforts in addressing health inequalities, offering opportunities for community engagement and support that go beyond traditional healthcare services.

However, reversing Thanet’s decline requires bold, systemic changes that address the root causes of inequality. Public health experts argue for a multi-faceted approach:

• Improved Funding: A significant increase in public health budgets is essential to tackle underlying inequalities. Thanet’s current public health grant has been disproportionately affected by budget cuts, leaving the area with fewer resources to address chronic health challenges. Restoring and increasing funding could enable better access to health services and long-term preventive care.

• Preventive Measures: Proactive health initiatives must become a priority. These include promoting healthy eating, expanding stop-smoking programmes, offering free or subsidised fitness classes, and ensuring access to mental health support. Importantly, these initiatives should focus on engaging ‘hard-to-reach’ groups, who are often most at risk but least likely to participate.

• Addressing Poverty: Socio-economic deprivation is a fundamental driver of poor health outcomes in Thanet. Long-term strategies to tackle income inequality, create sustainable employment opportunities, and improve housing conditions are critical. Poor-quality housing, particularly the high prevalence of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), contributes significantly to respiratory and mental health issues. Investment in better housing standards and affordable rents could dramatically improve public health.

A Call to Action

Thanet’s health crisis is a wake-up call. The statistics represent real lives cut short, families devastated, and communities left behind. Tackling these challenges will require collaboration between local authorities, healthcare providers, and national policymakers.

The Margate Town Deal, with its significant funding and ambitious goals, was positioned as a solution to these inequalities. However, as Margate’s health disparities persist, it is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of this initiative. The gap between the promises made and the reality on the ground reflects broader challenges in delivering transformative change. Without immediate action and transparency, the opportunity to create lasting improvements for Margate’s residents risks being squandered.

As one resident put it: “Thanet deserves better. It’s time for action, not just empty promises.” For the district, the path to recovery is clear: address deprivation, invest in healthcare, support community groups making real change, and provide hope for a healthier, brighter future.